Guilian-Barre syndrome in paediatrics

Guillian-Barre, an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, is a post infectious autoimmune peripheral neuropathy that ca occur 10 days after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection (classically Mycoplasma pneumonia or Campylobacter jejuni). It occurs in people of all ages (see GBS - Adults) and is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis in children.

In children, the characteristic symptoms are areflexia, flaccidity, and symmetrical ascending weakness. Progression can occur rapidly in hours or more indolently over weeks.

A cranial nerve variant of GBS called the Miller Fisher Variant manifests with ataxia, partial ophthalmoplegia, and areflexia.