Pune Sees 24 Cases Of Immunological Nerve Disorder Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Probe Ordered

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, it can be caused by contaminated food and water.

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 22 Jan 2025 11:30 AM (IST)

The cause of GBS is not fully understood, but most cases follow an infection with a virus or bacteria.
Source : Pexels

Over 20 suspected cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have been detected in Pune, Maharashtra. Most of these cases were detected in the Sinhgad Road area of the city. This prompted state health officials to form a team to investigate the sudden rise of the immunological nerve disorder.

According to PTI, samples from the 24 affected patients were sent to Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology ICMR-NIV for testing by the Pune Municipal Corporation's health department. Of the 24 cases, 10 were reported at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital, four at Kashibai Navle Hospital, five cases at Poona Hospital, three at Bharti Hospital, and one each at Ankura Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital.

Two of the total patients two are on ventilator support, while eight are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

GBS is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, it results in sudden numbness and muscle weakness, with symptoms like severe weakness in the limbs. Dr Nina Borade, chief of the civic health department explained that bacterial and viral infections generally lead to GBS as they weaken the immunity of patients.

She said the disease can be prevalent in both paediatric and young-age groups. But she reassured that GBS will not lead to an epidemic or pandemic adding that with proper treatment people can fully recover. Most suspected patients are in the age group of 12 to 30 years, with only one case of a 59-year-old patient currently undergoing treatment.

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Pune Health Department formed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to investigate the sudden rise in the disease in the city and peri-urban areas. The RRT includes Dr Babasaheb Tandale, a scientist from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Dr Premchand Kambale, Joint Director of Health Services, Dr Rajesh Karyekarte, HOD of the Department of Microbiology of B J Medical College, Dr Bhalchandra Pradhan, state epidemiologist and others.

According to Dr Borade, GBS doesn’t require a separate treatment. Only supportive care with antibiotics, IV fluids and treatments for paralysis is sufficient. The disease is self-limiting and recoverable.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the cause of GBS is not fully understood, but most cases follow an infection with a virus or bacteria. This leads the immune system to attack the body itself.

Dr Sameer Jog, a consultant intensivist, while speaking to PTI, said “It’s essentially immunological disease. After certain infections, whether bacterial or viral, the body's immune system is evoked. This evoked immunity acts against the nerves and muscles, affecting the lower limbs, upper limbs, and respiratory muscles. That is why it is called a nerve disorder.”

Dr Jog said that GBS can be caused by contaminated food and water, highlighting the importance of maintaining food and water hygiene. "The causes include bacterial and viral infections that can affect a host's immunity, leading to GBS. Common viruses linked to this include the influenza virus and rotavirus. Even dengue and chikungunya viruses are associated with triggering GBS," the doctor said.

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Published at : 22 Jan 2025 11:29 AM (IST)
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Pune Maharashtra Maharashtra' Pune Hospitals

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