Latest news with #GuillainBarréSyndrome
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosed in boy, six, from Aberaeron
Lewis was an active young boy who loved playing football and swimming. Even after getting a pain in his leg which persisted for a week, blood tests with the GP suggested this could be simply growing pains. But a few weeks later, he lost the ability to walk completely, and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome - a serious condition which damages the nerves, and affects around 1,300 people in the UK each the shock of being rushed from his Ceredigion home to Cardiff for treatment last year, Lewis, now six, is improving and has been able to take a few steps. "We initially put it down to growing or muscle pains, down to his age," said mum Lizzie Danton, 34, from Aberaeron."But after a week he was still complaining of pain and I noticed he was walking differently."Lizzie took Lewis to the GP where they carried out blood tests, where they came back with no issues. Four weeks later, during a swimming lesson, Lewis' teacher Martienus Thomas noticed that he struggled during the lesson. "Martienus mentioned that he struggled to kick while swimming, which was strange because he had received his 15m badge. Then all of sudden he couldn't walk," said Lizzie. Lizzie, and Lewis' dad, Alex, took the six-year-old to A&E in Aberystwyth before he was transferred to Glanwili Hospital, Carmarthen for scans and blood tests. Lewis was rushed to Noah's Ark Children's Hospital, Cardiff, in October 2024 after blood tests found he had high levels of protein in his system. Following further tests in Cardiff, Lewis was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. According to the NHS, the condition affects your senses, your movement and things such as breathing and your heartbeat. Some people's symptoms become so severe that they are not able to move their legs, arms and face."We are so lucky that the team acted so fast because if they hadn't, it could be very different," said Lizzie. After four weeks in hospital, Lewis was eventually allowed to return home in November. Although while home, Lewis picked up a virus and was rushed back to Cardiff after it started to affect his arms. "He went through numerous treatments and he lost all of his mobility. He couldn't move his toes or legs," said Lizzie."The last treatment has worked and he can now feel his legs and he has even taken three steps." Lizzie said as a family they have gone through different emotions throughout but Lewis has remained his cheeky self. She said: "He's been really good and he has kept our spirits up. He is making jokes and winding people up."It just shows how children can be so resilient."She added that while they still travel to Cardiff for treatment, Lewis is doing better now. Lizzie said she and her family are grateful for the team at Noah's Ark and the support they have received from the local community, adding: "We've had so much fundraising locally for Noah's Ark. We're so grateful for the team and how quickly they acted. "You don't realise how important charity services, like Noah's Ark, are until you need them most."Martienus Thomas, recently finished a fundraising walk from Lewis' school in Aberaeron, to Noah's Ark and has raised more than £5,000 for the hospital.
NZ Herald
16-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Vietnam to ventilation: Sisters go on 18th birthday trip, one ends up in intensive care
The sisters' Uncle Lele and Aunty Tash, who used to live in Vietnam, met the pair and planned to show their nieces 'all the cool things here, just making some fun and special core memories', Law told the Herald. Auri's first visit to hospital happened after she suffered symptoms of suspected dehydration. 'She had been on a bicycle tour, the temperature was high and she had drunk very little,' Law said. The hospital ran blood tests, and carried out a chest X-ray and a CT scan. Despite her presentation, they couldn't find anything medically wrong, so they agreed it was dehydration, gave her some IV fluids and she went home. At 1am the next morning, Auri tried to get out of bed but 'her legs just wouldn't work, and her uncle Lele rushed her immediately to the hospital', Staci Law said. What was meant to be an adventurous trip to Vietnam to mark a milestone birthday has led to a teenager ending up in intensive care. Photo / Givealittle Auri's uncle sent her mother a message to let her know what happened: 'He knew I'd be asleep given the time difference and as I have younger children. 'In the beginning, because all the tests were coming back clear, I wasn't overly concerned as I knew she was getting well taken care of and had her uncle, aunt and sister with her so she had a strong and supportive network right by her side.' Law said that as time went on, her condition deteriorated severely and more tests were done, without any definitive diagnosis. 'I got extremely worried, and then when she was quickly transferred from the first hospital by ambulance to the second, so she could go into ICU, I was panicked, anxious and distressed.' The team of neurologists are leaning towards Auri having a neurological condition called Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS). GBS is an autoimmune disease in which her body attacks itself instead of attacking an infection, leaving her paralysed, Law said. Auri Law left for Vietnam two weeks ago to celebrate her 18th birthday with her older sister Caea. Photo / Givealittle Language barrier 'huge concern' for family Law said navigating the language barrier has been a huge concern for the family from the start. 'Trying to describe symptoms like dizziness, wobbly legs, double vision was tricky and we feared that it would get lost in translation. 'We didn't want her symptoms to be overlooked, but we also wanted to make sure they knew exactly what we meant so she wasn't treated for the wrong thing.' Because Auri can't currently see, she doesn't know who is entering her room or why. 'That's scary for her, and then you add the language barrier on top, and you have a pretty difficult situation. 'It's extremely unsettling as we can only monitor and help ease the anxiety when we are here during visiting hours, but in the mornings and evenings, she is all alone trying to navigate this solo with no way to reach out for her,' Law said. What was meant to be an adventurous trip to Vietnam to mark a milestone birthday led to 18-year-old Auri Law being placed in intensive care, unable to see and needing help to breathe. Photo / Givealittle Mother's plea for help A Givealittle was set up to help the family with flights to get her sister home, Mum to Vietnam and any costs not covered by medical insurance. Any excess funds will go towards medical costs for Caea and Auri once they return to New Zealand, such as therapy and treatments. At the time of Auri's hospital admission, her mother was stuck in New Zealand and she made a plea for help. 'The last 48 hours+ have been hell. My child lays sedated, unmoving in a hospital bed in a foreign country, not understanding the language being spoken around her, and I need to get to her,' Staci Law said on Givealittle. Staci Law was unable to talk to or see Auri over video call for five days, because no phones were allowed in the intensive care unit. Since Staci Law landed in Vietnam to be with her daughter, there have been small improvements in Auri's condition. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Patient left to 'waste away' on wrong hospital ward
An engineer says he was "left to waste away" after he developed a rare medical condition that has left him in hospital for more than 200 days. Kevin Heard, 56, said he developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune condition, after he carried on working despite a bad case of flu. He now uses a wheelchair and is currently unable to write. Mr Heard, from Sutton Benger in Wiltshire, claimed he was placed on the wrong ward, which hindered his recovery, but hopes to raise awareness of the illness which affects 1,300 people in the UK every year. Luisa Goddard, chief nurse at Great Western Hospital, said she was "sorry that Mr Heard's experience did not reflect the standards we strive to uphold". Mr Heard, who was previously healthy, said that his recovery had not been aided by being placed on a respiratory ward, when he should have been on a neurology ward, which prevented him from receiving necessary physiotherapy. He said: "There is another side to my battle with my recovery that is to do with the NHS and how I've been treated. I was put on an incorrect ward and left to waste away." Ms Goddard said that when their neurology beds are full, "patients may need to be cared for in other parts of the hospital". She said: "Following Mr Heard's feedback, we have taken steps to review and improve our approach to patients who need enhanced care and specialist support for complex conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome. "We are also placing a renewed focus on preventing deconditioning and ensuring patients remain active and independent during their hospital stay through additional training, regular monitoring and meaningful activities for patients." Mr Heard now hopes to be able to leave Chippenham Community Hospital by the end of August. He said his illness began with a persistent cold and cough last summer. "I then got the flu, but I carried on working," he said. "By the middle of November, my left leg was starting to lose power, and my left hand side of my body had started to give problems, so I thought I was having a stroke. "I admitted myself into Great Western Hospital [in Swindon]. Eighteen hours and 32 doctors later, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome." At one point, Mr Heard was put in an induced coma for two days, to give his lungs a rest and received five rounds of plasma infusions. Although his symptoms are now improving, Mr Heard said it had been a "long and slow process" to get where he is today. He still struggles to feed himself and has had to relearn how to walk. "Every day is a learning day to overcome the problems with this debilitating illness," he said. "All of my nerves are functioning. They've all got their coating back. "I'm now standing for at least a minute (at a time), but I'd never have thought this time last year that I'd be learning to walk for the second time in my life." He hopes to be able to walk out of the hospital with a frame by the end of August and to be able to return to work, but not "for at least a year" to allow his body to "build fatigue resilience". He does not know if he will ever fully recover – and advises those who feel unusually ill to seek medical help. The decision not to rest while feeling ill, he said, may have contributed to his need to spend months in hospital. "Don't be a martyr. Have some rest, because not all of us are very good at doing that". It is a very rare and serious condition which affects the nerves. It mainly affects the feet, hands and limbs, causing problems such as numbness, weakness and pain. The symptoms include numbness and pins and needles starting in the feet and hands before spreading to the arms and legs. You can also have muscle weakness, pain and problems with balance and co-ordination. In severe cases, you may have difficulty moving, walking, breathing and swallowing. About one in 20 cases is fatal. It can be triggered by an infection, in extremely rare cases a vaccination, surgery, a medical procedure or an injury Some people will not make a full recovery and are left with long-term problems such as being unable to walk without assistance, weakness in the arms, legs or face, numbness, pain or a tingling or burning sensation, balance and co-ordination problems and extreme tiredness. Source: NHS UK Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. 'Fragile' girl's life transformed by 'loving' hospice Disabled woman denied wheelchair over 'criteria' Great Western Hospital
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Patient says he was left to 'waste away' on wrong hospital ward
An engineer says he was "left to waste away" after he developed a rare medical condition that has left him in hospital for more than 200 Heard, 56, said he developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune condition, after he carried on working despite a bad case of flu. He now uses a wheelchair and is currently unable to Heard, from Sutton Benger in Wiltshire, claimed he was placed on the wrong ward, which hindered his recovery, but hopes to raise awareness of the illness which affects 1,300 people in the UK every Goddard, chief nurse at Great Western Hospital, said she was "sorry that Mr Heard's experience did not reflect the standards we strive to uphold". Mr Heard, who was previously healthy, said that his recovery had not been aided by being placed on a respiratory ward, when he should have been on a neurology ward, which prevented him from receiving necessary said: "There is another side to my battle with my recovery that is to do with the NHS and how I've been treated. I was put on an incorrect ward and left to waste away."Ms Goddard said that when their neurology beds are full, "patients may need to be cared for in other parts of the hospital".She said: "Following Mr Heard's feedback, we have taken steps to review and improve our approach to patients who need enhanced care and specialist support for complex conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome."We are also placing a renewed focus on preventing deconditioning and ensuring patients remain active and independent during their hospital stay through additional training, regular monitoring and meaningful activities for patients."Mr Heard now hopes to be able to leave Chippenham Community Hospital by the end of said his illness began with a persistent cold and cough last summer. "I then got the flu, but I carried on working," he said."By the middle of November, my left leg was starting to lose power, and my left hand side of my body had started to give problems, so I thought I was having a stroke."I admitted myself into Great Western Hospital [in Swindon]. Eighteen hours and 32 doctors later, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome." At one point, Mr Heard was put in an induced coma for two days, to give his lungs a rest and received five rounds of plasma his symptoms are now improving, Mr Heard said it had been a "long and slow process" to get where he is still struggles to feed himself and has had to relearn how to walk."Every day is a learning day to overcome the problems with this debilitating illness," he said."All of my nerves are functioning. They've all got their coating back."I'm now standing for at least a minute (at a time), but I'd never have thought this time last year that I'd be learning to walk for the second time in my life."He hopes to be able to walk out of the hospital with a frame by the end of August and to be able to return to work, but not "for at least a year" to allow his body to "build fatigue resilience".He does not know if he will ever fully recover – and advises those who feel unusually ill to seek medical decision not to rest while feeling ill, he said, may have contributed to his need to spend months in hospital."Don't be a martyr. Have some rest, because not all of us are very good at doing that". What is Guillain-Barre syndrome? It is a very rare and serious condition which affects the mainly affects the feet, hands and limbs, causing problems such as numbness, weakness and symptoms include numbness and pins and needles starting in the feet and hands before spreading to the arms and legs. You can also have muscle weakness, pain and problems with balance and co-ordination. In severe cases, you may have difficulty moving, walking, breathing and one in 20 cases is can be triggered by an infection, in extremely rare cases a vaccination, surgery, a medical procedure or an injurySome people will not make a full recovery and are left with long-term problems such as being unable to walk without assistance, weakness in the arms, legs or face, numbness, pain or a tingling or burning sensation, balance and co-ordination problems and extreme NHS UK
Medscape
08-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
MHRA Advises on Rare GBS Risk After RSV Vaccination
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a Drug Safety Update concerning Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following the administration of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. Healthcare professionals are advised to inform recipients of Abrysvo (Pfizer) and Arexvy (GSK) about potential symptoms of GBS. Should these occur, recipients should seek immediate medical care, as early intervention can reduce severity and improve outcomes. GBS is an acute demyelinating disease that affects the peripheral nervous system. It has previously been reported in response to several vaccines, including those for influenza, swine flu, SARS-CoV-2, meningococcal disease, poliovirus, and rabies. Symptoms usually start in the limbs and include tingling, numbness, or pins and needles in the feet and hands, followed by muscle weakness and difficulty moving joints. Severe Cases May Include Paralysis In more serious cases, patients may experience shooting nerve pain, often in the legs or back, breathing difficulties, drooping facial muscles, problems with swallowing or speech, and double vision. Some may develop paralysis in the legs, arms, or face. Treatment typically requires hospitalisation for several weeks or months. Therapies include immunotherapy and symptomatic management. GBS can be fatal in rare instances. Study Suggests Increased Risk Post-Vaccination The MHRA alert follows a US study evaluating GBS risk in adults aged over 65 after receiving RSV vaccines. The study, led by the US Food and Drug Administration and data analysis company Acumen in California, was conducted as a self-controlled case series analysis between 3 May 2023 — when the vaccines were first approved in the US — and 28 January 2024. The study involved approximately 3.23 million Medicare recipients who received either Abrysvo or Arexvy. The researchers compared the incidence of GBS during risk intervals of 1-42 days after vaccination — when most reactions occur — to the incidence in later control periods (43-90 days). Ninety-five GBS cases were reported in the early period. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) ranged from 2.02 to 2.46, translating to 6.5-9 additional cases per 1 million vaccine doses. However, statistical significance was only reached in the Arexvy group. In the UK, Abrysvo is the RSV vaccine offered through the NHS to adults aged 75-79 and to pregnant women. As of 2 June 2025, the MHRA had received 21 Yellow Card reports of suspected GBS in older adults following Abrysvo vaccination. This was out of more than 1.9 million doses of Abrysvo administered up to 26 May on the NHS scheme. There have been no Yellow Card reports of GBS following Arexvy in the UK, probably due to limited use. Arexvy is not used in the NHS but may be accessed privately by adults over 60, or those aged 50-59 at higher risk. Arexvy is not recommended for use in pregnancy. However, the MHRA said that there was currently no evidence that Abrysvo increased GBS risk in pregnant women. The MHRA reported that, among over a quarter of a million doses of Abrysvo given to pregnant women up to 26 May 2025, there had been no Yellow Card reports of suspected GBS. Risk Remains Rare, Says MHRA The MHRA emphasised that the risk of GBS from RSV vaccines remains rare. Early, unpublished data from post-marketing surveillance by the UK Health Security Agency and Public Health Scotland estimated a combined excess of 15-25 GBS cases per million doses of Abrysvo given to those aged 75-79. The Commission on Human Medicines has reviewed the data and advised that the benefits of RSV vaccination in older adults outweigh the risk of developing GBS. Healthcare professionals and the public are urged to continue reporting suspected adverse reactions associated with Abrysvo and Arexvy through the Yellow Card scheme. Dr Sheena Meredith is an established medical writer, editor, and consultant in healthcare communications, with extensive experience writing for medical professionals and the general public. She is qualified in medicine and in law and medical ethics.
