GBS outbreak toll rises to four with one more death in Pune, two in Kolkata: Know symptoms, line of treatment

Maharashtra grapples with a growing cluster of 127 GBS cases since January 9.

A woman has died in Pune due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), marking the second death in Maharashtra. The 56-year-old woman died late Tuesday at Pune’s Sassoon General, while two recent deaths in Kolkata are suspected to be linked to the disease.

This comes as Maharashtra grapples with a growing cluster of 127 GBS cases since January 9.
The woman, who was also battling oral cancer, died on January 28 after suffering respiratory failure and sepsis.

The latest fatalities follow the confirmed death of a 41-year-old chartered accountant from Pune at a Solapur hospital, marking the first casualty in the outbreak that has primarily affected Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipalities.

According to an Indian Express report, the West Bengal health department confirmed that two people— a 10-year-old and the other a 17-year-old — have died of GBS in the state so far.

The 10-year-old child was admitted to a Kolkata hospital and died while undergoing treatment on Sunday. Hailing from Jagatdal of North 24 Parganas district, he was undergoing treatment at the BC Roy Hospital for a week before he died.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old youth from the North 24 Parganas district, who showed symptoms of the syndrome, died at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Monday morning.

The Times of India reported that other children from Malda and Baduria are currently undergoing treatment for GBS at the children’s hospital in Kolkata.

Maharashtra’s health minister, Prakash Abitkar, during a visit to Pune a few days ago, said that the recent GBS outbreak in the city was most likely due to contaminated water sources.

What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

It is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. The different forms of GBS are commonly known as -Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN). According to reports, GBS can cause numbness, weakness or paralysis. The first symptoms include weakness and tingling in the hands and feet.

When does it occur?

Praveen Gupta, chief of neurology at Fortis Hospital, told the Economic Times, "GBS occurs when antibodies, created to fight bacterial or viral infections like Campylobacter jejuni or respiratory infections, cross-react with the peripheral nerves." He said this leads to ascending paralysis, starting in the legs. "In severe cases, patients may lose the ability to breathe due to thoracic muscle weakness and need ventilator support."

Symptoms of the disease

According to the US-based research centre, Mayo Clinic, these are the following symptoms.

•The feeling of being pricked by pins in the fingers, toes, ankles and even the wrists

• Weakness in the legs

• Unsteady walk

• Trouble in speaking, chewing and swallowing

• Double vision or inability to move the eyes.

• Shooting or cramp-like pain

• Trouble with bladder control or bowel function

• A very rapid or inconsistent heart rate.

• Increase or decrease of blood pressure

• Issue in breathing

What is the line of treatment?

According to reports, treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange have revolutionised outcomes, but timely intervention remains critical. According to doctors, 80% of affected patients regain the ability to walk unaided within six months of hospital discharge, though some may take a year or longer to fully recover limb function.