Inflamatory Disease - Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Disease: Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Common Name: Just an abbreviation. GBS
Age of Onset: The syndrome does not affect one age over another.
Duration: The syndrome lasts a few weeks to a few years depending on severity and treatment.
More Common in ...: It does not affect one group more than another.
Cause: The specific cause of GBS is unknown, but it is most common after the victim recovers from a viral disease. The body mistakes its own cells for diseased cells and proceeds to attack them. The myelin surrounding nerve cells is eaten away untill the nerve fiber is exposed. Typically vaccinations trigger the malicious autoimmune cells, but doctors have not been able to pin down the exact cause.
Symptoms: GBS is fisrt felt in the form of weakness in the lower limbs. This weakness travels upwards into the arms and facial muscles. The victim will be prone to collapsing and may feel numb all over. There could be a loss of bladder control and a loss of pain. Respiratory problems could occur if the syndrome is severe.
Prognosis: As previously stated, the disease first manifests as a feeling of weakness in the legs. The weakness travels upward in the following days until it reaches the head. The above symptoms can occur in the next weeks but the entire syndrome runs itself out in about one month unless other nervous problems already exist.
Treatment Options: There is no known cure but there are many therapies that could aid in the recovery of the victim and lessen the severity of the symptoms. The patient will receive a high dose of immunoglobin to combat the damaged autoimmune cells. The patient may need a respirator and/or a heart monitor to help with normal body functioning. The main goal is to wait out the disease until it goes away.
Sources: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/gbs.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain-Barr%C3%A9_syndrome, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/guillain-barre-syndrome/DS00413