What is Guillain-Barré?
Guillain-Barré is rapid-onset muscle weakness damaging the peripheral nervous system. In severe cases, it can develop into paralysis that prevents people from walking. It can often occur shortly after people contract a viral or bacterial infection, it is fatal in 3 – 5% of cases. The condition is already known to be triggered by West Nile, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya. A link has been found with Zika virus
What exactly is this link?
In the past. 2013 and 2014 the islands of French Polynesia had an outbreak of Zika and the cases of Guillain-Barré jumped to eight times the pre Zika virus levels. Latin America is currently experiencing a Zika outbreak (as mentioned in a previous blog post) and reports have arisen about a rise in Guillain-Barré cases.
Whilst this is not definitively known for Zika, scientists believe that the immune system whilst fighting a virus get muddled, confusing its own nerve cells for cells the virus controls. This results in the nerve cells being damaged or dying. This eventually causes the muscle weakness which continues to deteriorate. Best estimates from scientists examining and researching Guillain-Barré from Zika suggest that about 2.5% of those with Zika will get Guillain-Barré.
How is Guillain-Barré treated?
Guillain-Barré is rapid-onset muscle weakness damaging the peripheral nervous system. In severe cases, it can develop into paralysis that prevents people from walking. It can often occur shortly after people contract a viral or bacterial infection, it is fatal in 3 – 5% of cases. The condition is already known to be triggered by West Nile, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya. A link has been found with Zika virus
What exactly is this link?
In the past. 2013 and 2014 the islands of French Polynesia had an outbreak of Zika and the cases of Guillain-Barré jumped to eight times the pre Zika virus levels. Latin America is currently experiencing a Zika outbreak (as mentioned in a previous blog post) and reports have arisen about a rise in Guillain-Barré cases.
- Brazil had 19% more cases in 2015 than it did in 2014
- El Salvador has had 118 cases in 1 month, its average annual number is 169
Whilst this is not definitively known for Zika, scientists believe that the immune system whilst fighting a virus get muddled, confusing its own nerve cells for cells the virus controls. This results in the nerve cells being damaged or dying. This eventually causes the muscle weakness which continues to deteriorate. Best estimates from scientists examining and researching Guillain-Barré from Zika suggest that about 2.5% of those with Zika will get Guillain-Barré.
How is Guillain-Barré treated?
- Receive immunoglobulin infusions, this type of antibody lessens the attack on nerve cells, although the reason for this is unknown
- Extract a person’s blood and remove the plasma before re-administering the blood. This works as it agents in the plasma are responsible for the nerve attacks however it is a matter of time before more of the agents are made
- Use machines to sustain life, e.g. artificial respirators, whilst they recover from the virus allowing their immune system to stop attacking nerve cells