title: Epidemiologic study of Guillain-Barré syndrome in children <15 years of age in Latin America.
abstract: In 1986, surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases among children <15 years of age was implemented in Latin America as part of the initiative to eradicate poliomyelitis from the Western Hemisphere. Data on AFP, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), could be analyzed from a regional registry system and from specific GBS studies in seven countries. Between 1989 and 1991, 3112 cases of GBS were reported in Latin America, representing 52% of all nonpolio AFP cases. From the studies in seven countries, a total of 1527 GBS cases (49%) were studied, representing an overall annual incidence rate of 0.91/100,000 children <15 years old. Follow-up investigations showed a persistent muscular weakness at 60 days, 6 months, and 1 year after onset in 61%, 14%, and 10% of children, respectively. This study confirms that with the disappearance of polio, GBS arises as the most common cause of AFP.
authors.affiliation: Special Program for Vaccines and Immunization, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Olivé
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Quadros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence