(Eqtsad)- Many cases of paralysis, weakness, numbness and tiredness from different ages attended hospitals and health centres in Latakia, for some reason people considered them all as Guillain-Barre Syndrome, that name has become one of the most frightening word. Many users and opportunists took chance of people’s fear and desperation to get as much money as they could to heal them.
To know the real situation of what happened, Eqtsad talked to a lady from Latakia who witnessed the state of fear among people, especially she works in a medical centre. “Many people tried to find explanation for that disease which claimed to cause death and in best situation it causes permanent paralysis of different degrees”.
She added that some blamed the hot wave that hit the city and caused diarrhea and vomiting followed by paralysis. Other accused the fast food and some thought that sea water was contaminated with strange microbes and caused symptoms.
She added that some blamed the hot wave that hit the city and caused diarrhea and vomiting followed by paralysis. Other accused the fast food and some thought that sea water was contaminated with strange microbes and caused symptoms.
“Few talks about air pollution with some chemical and biological agents were circulated, but with sort of secrecy”
When asking her about the way people dealt with the disease, Rim explained that talks mentioned 18 cases of the disease in Latakia, but no one was able to confirm the diagnosis, and no treatment available.
“Unfortunately, as usual, opportunists took chance of every crisis people suffer, as many medical practitioners claimed that blood apheresis could help in healing the disease and did for patients at cost of 2 million Syrian pound, added to many kinds of imported or smuggled drugs, where sources and components are unknown”
Rim explained.
To know the scientific background of Guillain-barre Syndrome and its relation to what happened in Latakia, Eqtsad talked to Dr. Samir Abouhamed, specialist of Neurology in France, he explained that Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare disease occur at rate of 1-2 per 100,000, the same rate all over the world.
He added that it causes rapid-onset muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system, where the symptoms may develop within hours or weeks. The initial symptoms are typically changes in sensation like numbness and loss of sensation or pain along with muscle weakness begins in the feet and then reaches up to hands and even respiratory muscles, neck and face.
The Syndrome according to the neurologist passes through three stages, where the first one is the time of Symptoms developing from sensational symptoms to paralysis, in which the patients may need admission to Intensive care units in case of respiratory failure due to paralysis of respiratory muscles.
Second id the stability stage, where symptoms settled and signs of autonomic nervous system start to appear which can lead to dangerous abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure.
Patients are at risk of dying of this stage due to complications like affecting autonomic system and complication of long stay in bed like deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and skin infection and ulcers.
The third stage is the recovery stage, in which almost 85% of patients return to normal within weeks to more than a year, and the rest stay of some permanent sequelae. .
The cause is unknown, but the underlying mechanism according to Dr. Samir involves an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves and damages their myelin insulation. Sometimes this immune dysfunction is triggered by an infection or less commonly surgery or vaccination. The reason behind that attack is the similarity between some components of some viruses and bacteria and the myelin, therefore, antibodies that were formed to attack germs, would attack the myelin as well.
The supporting fact for that explanation is that most cases of Guillain-Barre were preceded with signs and symptoms of an infection in the 3–6 weeks prior to the onset of the neurological symptoms. This may consist of upper respiratory tract infection (rhinitis, sore throat) or diarrhea.
The supporting fact for that explanation is that most cases of Guillain-Barre were preceded with signs and symptoms of an infection in the 3–6 weeks prior to the onset of the neurological symptoms. This may consist of upper respiratory tract infection (rhinitis, sore throat) or diarrhea.
In regard to diagnosis is usually made based on signs and symptoms, through the exclusion of alternative causes, and supported by tests such as nerve conduction, method to diagnose the disease is finding the antibodies in blood and the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF).
Signs that highly suggestive for the disease is the progressive weakness of the four limbs starts with the lower limbs, beside absent of reflexes, added to the rapid development of symmetrical symptoms from days to 4 weeks, moderate sensational symptom and autonomic system involvement and high concentration of protein in the CSF.
About treatment, the Neurologist explained that most effective treatment is the immunoglobulins that is given for five days, but it is too expensive, it is available in Syria via Lebanon, but it is made in Russia, India or Pakistan, which is not guarantee both from the concentration of effective material, and the risk of transmitting HIV Hepatitis b and c.
the old treatment that still practiced in Syria is Cortisones, which is not effective in treatment Guillain-Barre, moreover, it increases the risk of complication and muscles weakness, infection and veins and pulmonary embolisms.
In the end, Dr. Abouhamed confirmed that Guillain-Barre Syndrome is not infectious and cannot be transmitted from person to person, and cases usually happen individually.
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