title: [Clinical picture, evolution and results of treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome in children and adolescents].
abstract: 68 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 36 girls and 32 boys at the age of 12 months up to 18 years were treated in the Department of Developmental Neurology in Poznań in 1989-1999. The incidence of neurological symptoms was preceded in 50 patients (74%) by the infection of the alimentary or upper respiratory tracts. However, only 39 (57%) presented virus etiology and moreover, 7 children out of this group showed significant growth of antibodies to poliovirus. Six-degree range was applied to evaluate the level of motor insufficiency which involved flaccid paralysis of various degree in 48 children and adolescents. Additionally in 14 the coincidence of bulbar syndrome and i 5 patients the respiratory muscle paralysis was found. There was only 1 child with Miller-Fisher syndrome. The clinical course of the disease was divided into three phases: increase, stabilization and subsidence of symptoms. There were also presented the methods of treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Immunoglobulins were applied to 9 children, plasmapheresis was administered to 8 children. Steroids were used for 37 patients and mechanical ventilation for 5 children. Motor rehabilitation was applied to all patients. The influence of the treatment method on clinical course of the disease and its final effect were evaluated. It was established that, the early administration of immunoglobulins in the form of intravenous infusions into the treatment shortens the period of paretic intensification. Plasmapheresis applied to patients with the most severe paralysis significantly reduced the period of increase and stabilisation of neurological symptoms, enabling early rehabilitation and faster mobilisation of the patients. The application of steroids did not have significant influence on the course and the final effect of treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Neurologii Wieku Rozwojowego Akademii Medycznej im. K. Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zielińska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galas-Zgorzalewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D010244:Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous