[Guillain-Barre syndrome in children: experience in the neurology service of Dakar]

Dakar Med. 2000;45(1):81-4.
[Article in French]

Abstract

A retrospective survey has been conducted from january 1979 to january 1999 about the young inpatients file records of the department of neurology of Dakar. 19 cases of Guillain-Barré's syndrome have been collected, representing 2.3% of the children admitted in the department of neurology. The children were 18 months to 16 years old. The sex ratio was 1.4. Infectious disease has been reported in 68.4% of the cases during the 4 weeks preceding the neurological features. The notion of vaccination was found in 5.3% of the cases. The motor deficit was frequent, represented by paraparesis in 63.2% and quadriparesis in 36.8% of the cases. The mean duration of the hospitalisation was 28 days. 52.6% of the patients have completely recovered from their motor deficit and this recovery was unachieved in 36.8%. No fatal event has been detected. The therapeutical means were represented by vitaminotherapy B1B6B12 associated with kinesitherapy. Our results reveal a less severe evolution and better prognosis of Guillain-Barré's syndrome affecting children, instead of the absence of more appropriate means of treatment such as plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / etiology
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / therapy
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Senegal / epidemiology
  • Sex Distribution
  • Thiamine / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin B 6 / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamin B 6
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Thiamine