First Guillain-Barré Syndrome case in Telangana: Siddipet youth diagnosed with rare nerve ailment

Hyderabad: In a first case for Telangana, a 25-year-old youth from Telangana’s Siddipet district has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)—a rare nerve ailment now widespread in some portions of Pune and nearby areas.

“GBS arises when the body’s immune system erroneously assaults its own nerve system in response to fever or loose motions,” said consultant neurologist Dr Praveen Kumar Yada.

“The youth has been admitted and is put on ventilator support treatment at KIMS Hospital after being diagnosed with GBS,” according to a statement issued by KIMS Hospital here on Friday.

No travel history to Pune

“Despite the high prevalence of this ailment in Pune, Maharashtra, the patient has no history of travel to Pune, and no one in her family has a history of the condition,” said Dr Praveen.

The woman was initially treated at another hospital for a week, but when her condition worsened, she was sent to KIMS Hospital for specialised medical care. Because of the severity of her health, she is currently being treated on ventilators. District Medical and Health Officer of Siddipet Dr B Palwan Kumar said that the case has not come to the notice of the administration.

What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)?

The GBS outbreak in Pune and the adjacent areas is most likely caused by polluted water sources. The outbreak is suspected to be caused by Campylobacter jejuni, a bug prevalent in contaminated food and water.

GBS is a post-infection syndrome that typically develops two to six weeks after an infection. It is a rare condition that produces acute numbness and muscle weakness in the limbs, as well as diarrhoea. GBS typically develops after a patient recovers from a severe bout of bacterial or viral infection, which weakens the person’s immunity.