Guillain-Barré syndrome during childhood: Particular clinical and electrophysiological features

Abstract

Gait disorder, leg pain, a high rate of distal conduction block, and a good prognosis are among the main specific features of GBS in childhood.

Severe Pure Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy

“…Moreover, Hiraga et al (3) stated that AMAN patients with a severe clinical picture could not regain their ability to walk in the first six months, and a complete healing could last a longer time. Devos et al (10) conducted a study on 19 children and reported that 17 of them were able to completely recover after more than a year. In our patient with a severe clinical picture, early healing was not observed.…”

The Child With Acute Weakness

“…It is triggered by a preceding respiratory or gastrointestinal infection in up to two thirds of cases. [5][6][7][8] Campylobacter jejuni is the most frequently found gastrointestinal pathogen in patients with GBS. Incidence rates vary between 0.38 and 2.53 per 100 000 based on region of the world.…”

“…Overall, acute demyelinating inflammatory polyneuropathy is the most common variant occurring in 72% to 95% of cases. 7,8,10 There is male predominance in GBS, and the mean age is 4.9 (range, 5-7.5 years). [4][5][6][7]10,11 Presenting signs include weakness and areflexia or hyporeflexia in nearly all patients as well as neuropathy, with myalgias or leg pain and paraesthesias.…”

“…[4][5][6][7]10,11 Presenting signs include weakness and areflexia or hyporeflexia in nearly all patients as well as neuropathy, with myalgias or leg pain and paraesthesias. 3,4,[6][7][8]10 Children experience pain to a much higher extent than adults. Ataxia may also be present due to weakness or associated with the Miller-Fisher variant.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] Patients may be nonambulatory or have bladder or bowel sphincter disturbance at presentation. 4,8 Guillain-Barré syndrome must be differentiated from transverse myelitis (TM) and anterior spinal …”