Guillain-Barre’ Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Guillain-Barre´ Syndrome (GBS) is an acute-onset, monophasic, immune-mediated polyneuropathy that often follows an antecedent infection. Special nutritional support has an important role in these patients. Methods: A 6 years old girl with GBS was admitted to PICU of Dr. Sheikh Children Hospital (Mashhad, Iran). Chief compliance for hospitalization was inability to walk and having a progressive muscle involvement of the lower extremities upwards. The patient was affected to this condition during just one day before hospitalization. After the patient was stabilized, she was referred to nutritional support team for specialized Guillain-Barre medical nutritional therapy. The patient was discharged after 37 days and had improved medical condition. Findings: From the 157 obtained samples, 50 (30.9%) were positive cultures. A significant difference in the frequency of positive cultures was identified between four surgical scrub solutions (df = 3, χ2 = 17.4, P = 0.001). The lowest frequency of positive culture (7.5%) was observed for the solution containing povidone-iodine (10% Betadine Scrub). Conclusions: GBS is rare; however, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient, who presents with progressive weakness. It is important to recognize the variety and severity of the neurologic symptoms associated with GBS, especially with the diagnostic difficulties associated with the pediatric population.