A female patient (25 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City) got a cold after returning to Ho Chi Minh City from a trip to a cold weather area. She then started to feel numbness in her hands and feet, spreading to her waist.
After a few days, the patient felt weakness in both legs, had difficulty walking, felt dizzy and fell. When he went to the emergency room at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, the patient was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome in the plateau phase. After treatment, the patient was discharged from the hospital.
However, the numbness in both hands and feet did not improve, and even the numbness in both legs spread to the waist, causing weakness in both legs and making it impossible to walk. The patient continued to be hospitalized at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3.
Medical history showed that the patient was normal, had no special medical history, only had frequent colds that recovered on their own.
On March 3, Dr. Au Van Khe (Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital - Campus 3) said that Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease but can seriously affect the nervous system. The disease occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks peripheral nerves, damaging the myelin sheath that protects the nerves. As a result, nerve signals are interrupted, leading to muscle weakness, numbness and many dangerous complications, which can even be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
After two weeks of combined treatment with Eastern and Western medicine, the numbness was reduced by 50%, the patient could walk steadily and even jog in place.
Doctor treating a patient
Causes of disease
According to Dr. Khe, the exact cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome is not yet known. However, research shows that the disease often appears after some factors that stimulate the immune system, including previous infections such as diseases caused by viruses or bacteria, especially Campylobacter jejuni (bacteria that often cause acute gastroenteritis), influenza virus, COVID-19 or Mycoplasma bacteria. A small number of cases are related to vaccination, but the benefits of vaccination still outweigh this risk.
Additionally, the cause may come from some underlying medical conditions or other immune disorders, recent surgery or medical interventions.
The disease usually starts with mild to severe symptoms and can progress rapidly. Numbness and tingling begin in the fingertips and toes, followed by gradual muscle weakness, starting from the feet and spreading upward. Patients will have difficulty walking and standing. Muscle weakness in the arms and face, causing difficulty in movement and expression, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking, back pain and muscle pain, loss of tendon reflexes, respiratory disorders (in severe cases can lead to respiratory failure).
"Symptoms can progress within a few hours to a few days. Severe cases can cause the patient to fall into a state of total paralysis or respiratory failure requiring ventilator support," Dr. Khe noted.
Guillain-Barré syndrome treatment
Dr. Khe said that currently, there is no specific treatment to completely cure Guillain-Barré syndrome. However, treatments to help control the disease and promote recovery include modern medical treatments such as immunotherapy. With this method, the doctor will intravenously infuse Immunoglobulin to help block the effects of autoimmune antibodies. Or plasma filtration to remove disease-causing antibodies. In severe cases, the patient may need intubation and mechanical ventilation to maintain breathing.
In addition, physical therapy and rehabilitation help patients regain muscle strength, reduce complications due to long-term immobilization. Support breathing exercises to improve respiratory function.
Combining traditional medicine in the treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome helps shorten recovery time and improve motor function. Methods include acupuncture, thread implantation, hydroacupuncture (injecting medicine into acupoints) and oriental medicine.
"Currently, there are no specific preventive measures for Guillain-Barré syndrome. However, you can reduce the risk of getting the disease by maintaining a healthy immune system, eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, getting vaccinated to prevent related infections, maintaining personal hygiene, especially washing your hands regularly to limit the risk of infection, and thoroughly treating respiratory and digestive infections to limit complications related to the nervous system," Dr. Khe recommended.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dot-ngot-te-tay-chan-nguoi-phu-nu-duoc-phat-hien-benh-ly-tu-mien-hiem-gap-185250303114848292.htm
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