Guillain-Barré Syndrome (G.B.S.)

Name	Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Related to/Also known as	Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP) Landry-Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Symptoms of GBS	GBS is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves - those outside the brain and spinal cord. It is characterised by the rapid onset of muscle weakness and loss of sensation, and in serious cases can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms, breathing muscles and face. Recovery usually begins within 2-3 weeks, and only a minority of cases have long-lasting problems. "The risk of the seasonal flu jab triggering GBS or CIDP is far lower than the risk from flu itself" Source: GAIN
Types	CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) is a similar, but longer lasting condition.
Useful national contacts	Gain (Guillain-Barré & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies) www.gaincharity.org.uk Helpline: 0800 374 803 • Find a support group near you: http://tinyurl.com/y37c2z7g
Children & young people	GBS and CIPD in children (GAIN) https://tinyurl.com/yyygfsqz
News and events	Statement from Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on flu vaccinations (December 2018) "Suggestions that flu vaccines may cause GBS can be pinpointed to a very specific type of vaccine given to patients in the USA in 1976. The vaccine was not used in any other countries and a theory was that this risk was due to a contaminant in that particular type of vaccine." https://tinyurl.com/ybb5kkn7
Online resources	Vaccinations for Flu and COVID - your questions answered (GAIN) https://gaincharity.org.uk/covid-19 Interested in Guillain-Barre and vaccinations? Listen to this podcast… (GAIN, February 2021) https://gaincharity.org.uk/interested-in-guillain-barre-and-vaccinations-listen-to-this-podcast COVID 19 (Coronavirus) (GAIN) https://gaincharity.org.uk/covid-19 Guillain-Barré Syndrome (NHS Choices) https://tinyurl.com/y7jbce8k Guillain-Barré Syndrome (Facial Palsy UK) https://tinyurl.com/ybzlnzlb Guillain-Barré syndrome (Contact, charity for families with disabled children) h ttps://tinyurl.com/w5xavr5 Influenza Immunisation (Gain) https://gaincharity.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Immunisation-sheet.pdf Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read "Jenny's Story", a story book about being in hospital with GBSand the treatment involved.https://gaincharity.org.uk/interested-in-guillain-barre-and-vaccinations-listen-to-this-podcast/