Explore answers to common questions about symptoms, treatment, recovery, and what to expect at every stage of the journey.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Ask The Health Navigator What is GBS?
- GBS occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your healthy peripheral nerves, damaging their protective myelin sheath.
- This damage disrupts nerve signals to the brain, leading to weakness, numbness, and paralysis.
What causes GBS?
- The exact cause is unknown, but it often follows a viral or bacterial infection (like Campylobacter, flu, COVID-19, Zika) due to “molecular mimicry” where infection-fighting antibodies attack nerve cells.
- Rarely, surgery or vaccinations can trigger it.
Who gets GBS?
Anyone can get it, but it's more common in adults over 50, and slightly more in men.
What are the symptoms?
- Early: Tingling and weakness, often starting in both legs and spreading upwards.
- Progression: Can rapidly worsen over days to weeks, affecting arms, face, and breathing muscles.
- Severe: Paralysis, difficulty breathing, swallowing, speaking, and autonomic issues (blood pressure, heart rate).
Is it contagious?
No, GBS is not contagious.
How is it diagnosed?
Doctors use physical exams, nerve conduction studies (electromyography – EMG), and a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to analyze spinal fluid.
How is it treated and what's the outlook?
- Treatment: Hospitalization is needed; treatments like IV immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis help.
- Recovery: Most start improving in 2-4 weeks, but full recovery takes months to years, requiring physical therapy.
- Prognosis: Most recover, but many experience some level of residual effect including but not limited to: weakness, numbness, or fatigue.
When to seek emergency care (Call 911/Emergency Services)
If you experience sudden, rapid weakness, tingling, or paralysis, especially if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
