Flu shots and Guillain Barre Syndrome

[Guest guest]

Dr. Gott: Tot¢s immune system attacks

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/12/16/03728685/index.xml

Dear Dr. Gott: My 3-year-old grandson has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre

Syndrome.

He¢s unable to walk or use the fine movements of his hands, and it seems to have

affected his speech. His face looks tired. He has physical and occupational

therapy three times a week. Will he recover fully?

We¢ve also been told he is not to have any more flu shots, as this could

sometimes trigger the condition.

Dear Reader: Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare disorder in which the body¢s

immune system attacks a portion of its central nervous system. It can affect

anyone at any age.

About one person in every 100,000 suffers from the syndrome. It is unknown what

sets the disease in motion. It has been known to occur a few days or weeks after

symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection appear. Because

vaccination can trigger the condition, your grandson¢s physicians are correct in

denying flu shots.

Initial symptoms include a tingling sensation in the legs that can spread to the

arms and upper body. The intensity can increase until certain muscles cannot be

used at all. Symptoms can progress over the course of a few hours to a few

weeks. The greatest degree of weakness is generally observed within the first

two weeks following initial symptoms, and most patients are at their weakest

point by the third week.

During the progression, patients may require the use of a heart monitor,

respirator or other equipment that can help the body function. Because of the

sophistication of the equipment, patients are most often treated in a hospital.

Recovery can occur in as little as a few weeks with adjunct equipment.

There is no cure for Guillain-Barre, but there are several therapies that can

lessen the severity of the illness and speed recovery in most patients.

Plasma exchange is one form of therapy. It removes whole blood from the body.

The blood is then processed so the red and white cells are separated from the

plasma. The blood cells, without the plasma, are then returned to the body, and

the body then quickly and naturally replaces the plasma.

With immunoglobulin therapy, a physician gives small quantities of proteins

intravenously that the immune system uses to attack invading organisms.

[Guest guest]

Dr. Gott. He lives a few towns from me and I've read his column off and on for

years. He used to be pretty arrogant regarding alternative medicine but

something changed several years back. Interesting. that he would go so far as to

admit the flu vaccine would be at fault. There's hope!

Winnie

Flu shots and Guillain Barre Syndrome

sheri

> Dr. Gott: Tot¢s immune system attacks

>

> http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/12/16/03728685/index.xml

>

> Dear Dr. Gott: My 3-year-old grandson has been diagnosed with

> Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

> He¢s unable to walk or use the fine movements of his hands, and

> it seems to have affected his speech. His face looks tired. He

> has physical and occupational therapy three times a week. Will

> he recover fully?

>

> We¢ve also been told he is not to have any more flu shots, as

> this could sometimes trigger the condition.

> Dear Reader: Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare disorder in which

> the body¢s immune system attacks a portion of its central

> nervous system. It can affect anyone at any age.

>

> About one person in every 100,000 suffers from the syndrome. It

> is unknown what sets the disease in motion. It has been known to

> occur a few days or weeks after symptoms of a respiratory or

> gastrointestinal viral infection appear. Because vaccination can

> trigger the condition, your grandson¢s physicians are correct in

> denying flu shots.

>

> Initial symptoms include a tingling sensation in the legs that

> can spread to the arms and upper body. The intensity can

> increase until certain muscles cannot be used at all. Symptoms

> can progress over the course of a few hours to a few weeks. The

> greatest degree of weakness is generally observed within the

> first two weeks following initial symptoms, and most patients

> are at their weakest point by the third week.

>

> During the progression, patients may require the use of a heart

> monitor, respirator or other equipment that can help the body

> function. Because of the sophistication of the equipment,

> patients are most often treated in a hospital. Recovery can

> occur in as little as a few weeks with adjunct equipment.

> There is no cure for Guillain-Barre, but there are several

> therapies that can lessen the severity of the illness and speed

> recovery in most patients.

>

> Plasma exchange is one form of therapy. It removes whole blood

> from the body. The blood is then processed so the red and white

> cells are separated from the plasma. The blood cells, without

> the plasma, are then returned to the body, and the body then

> quickly and naturally replaces the plasma.

>

> With immunoglobulin therapy, a physician gives small quantities

> of proteins intravenously that the immune system uses to attack

> invading organisms.

>

>

>

>

>

>