Pune records rise in GBS cases, 18 on ventilator support

Pune records rise in GBS cases

Pune is currently dealing with a serious rise in cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a neurological disorder that can leave people paralyzed.

Out of 140 patients in the city, 18 are on ventilators, but according to the experts, this is not the worst GBS outbreak in the world.

There was a bigger GBS outbreak in Peru in 2019, which had over 1,100 cases. In that year alone, 683 new cases were reported within two months, a huge jump from just 59 cases in 2017. While Pune’s current cases seem to be limited to this city, Peru had GBS cases spread across the entire country.

According to the Times of India, the exact number of deaths linked to the GBS outbreak in the South American country remains unclear.

Not only that, even in 2023, Peru saw another wave of GBS when 130 suspected cases were reported in just over a month.

Experts suggest that GBS, while an autoimmune disorder, has not typically been seen as something that spreads like an epidemic. “GBS has been sporadic, but it’s time to reconsider how we view it. We need to look for links between patients, especially during outbreaks, to better understand it,” said a medical professor from Mumbai.

Dr Gajanan Velhal, a specialist in community medicine stressed the need for more research into the common factors between patients to determine what triggers such outbreaks.

The only known link between the GBS cases in Pune and Peru is a bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni, which is linked to higher risks of disability and death in GBS patients. While GBS is rare in India, with only about 1.75 to 2 cases per lakh people annually, there hasn’t been much research into its causes.

A recent global study on GBS, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, looked at data from 1990 to 2019 and revealed that countries like Japan, the US, and Mexico have higher-than-expected rates of GBS, while places like China and Taiwan have much lower rates. Japan’s higher rates could be due to frequent infections and possibly genetic factors, according to the study.

While more research is needed, the rise of GBS cases in Pune has raised concerns and calls for a closer study of the factors contributing to this potentially dangerous condition.

What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome?

Guillain-Barre Syndrome 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.

What is the line of treatment?

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.