Peru has declared a 90-day public health emergency following an outbreak of cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Government Peru declared a 90-day health emergency this Sunday. an unusual outbreak of cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome after the death of four people due to this disease that affects the nervous system.
It has “declared a 90-day public health emergency due to an unusual increase in cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome,” the Department of Health said in a statement.
The syndrome presents with progressive muscle weakness that occurs over two to four weeks and can affect the respiratory system. One of its most common symptoms is tingling and loss of strength in the limbs.
What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome, is a serious health problem that occurs when the body’s defense system (the immune system) mistakenly attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. This leads to inflammation of the nerve, which causes muscle weakness or paralysis and other symptoms.
In Peru, the number of deaths from the syndrome rose to four and the number of cases topped 180 between January and July, according to the ministry’s new balance sheet.
What are the reasons
The incidence of GBS increases with age. But it can happen at any age. It most often occurs in people aged 30 to 50 years.
It is believed to be an autoimmune disease. The exact cause of GBS is unknown.. In an immune disorder, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself.
How is Guillain-Barré syndrome treated?
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a medical emergency and those affected must be hospitalized. because they require vigilance and observation of one’s breath, heart activity and blood pressure to prevent complications such as arrhythmias, infections, thrombosis, and hypertension or hypotension.
Although there is no curetreatment based on immunotherapy can improve symptoms and speed up recovery, especially if it starts one to two weeks after the onset of symptoms. In the acute phase, this condition is usually treated with two types of treatment.
If breathing becomes difficult, they will need artificial ventilation using a respirator. Difficulties with swallowing also require intravenous fluids and even enteral or parenteral nutrition.
What symptoms does it cause?
- A tingling sensation in the legs, arms, ankles, or wrists.
- Loss of reflexes.
- Blurring, double vision and even the inability to move the eyes.
- Weakness in both legs, which extends to the rest of the body.
- Uncoordinated and unsteady gait or inability to walk or climb stairs.
- Flaccid paralysis of the facial muscles, followed by difficulty speaking, chewing, or swallowing.
- Difficulty breathing with damage to the pectoral muscles.
- Intense pain, which may be dull or throbbing, convulsive. Especially often in children, it can appear in any area of the legs, back or head.
- In very severe cases, there may also be loss of bladder control and bowel function, a rapid heart rate, and high or low blood pressure.
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