Symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome

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Guillaine-Barre syndrome develops quickly, usually over a period of a few days, with symptoms first appearing 1 to 3 weeks after a trivial infection, such as a cold or sore throat.

After an initial bout of headaches, vomiting, fever and back and limb pain, symptoms may include:

tingling and numbness in the limbs,
muscle weakness,
temporary paralysis of the legs, arms, face and respiratory muscles, which control breathing,
difficulty with eye movement, speech, chewing or swallowing,
difficulty with bladder control or digestion and very slow heart rate or low blood pressure.

Because Guillain-Barre develops fast, early treatment is very important. The condition can be life threatening and you will need to be closely monitored in case the paralysis spreads to the respiratory musclesâ€“ once this happens you will need to be put on a ventilator (a machine that helps you breathe).

The extent of paralysis varies with each case â€“ some peopleâ€™s symptoms might not go beyond a general feeling of weakness, but if you start to feel a tingling sensation in your toes, feet or legs followed by muscle weakness, then see your GP immediately or contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.