40 year old man dies of Guillain Barre Syndrome; these were his symptoms

Amid rising concerns over the deadly Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a recent death has heightened fears surrounding the disease. This is possibly the first death in Maharashtra suspected to have been caused by GBS as the number of cases of the immunological nerve disorder in Pune rose to 110 on Monday.

The 40-year-old man, a native of Solapur, had come to Pune, where he is believed to have contracted the disease, according to officials. The Pune-based Chartered Accountant from DSK Vishwa area in Dhayari died. He was suffering from diarrhoea for a few days and had gone to his native village from Solapur district for a private visit. After feeling extreme weakness, he was admitted to a private hospital in Solapur where the doctors diagnosed him with GBS.

What were his symptoms?

"The patient, suffering from symptoms like breathlessness, weakness in lower limbs, and diarrhoea, was admitted to a private hospital (in Solapur) on January 18 as he was on ventilator support on and off. He died on Sunday," Solapur Government Medical College Dean Dr Sanjiv Thakur said.

The primary report indicated the death was due to GBS, he said, adding blood samples of the man have been sent to the city-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) for further examination.

See more: Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS): Symptoms causes treatment prevention

Why Guillain Barre Syndrome should not be ignored?

GBS is a rare occurrence, but the consequences of this post infectious disease can be fatal in some patients and can also affect the quality of life in many.

In view of the growing cases of GBS, the Neurological Society of Pune has released an advisory.

"The illness often starts suddenly and can progress over 4 weeks. Some patients may experience rapid worsening while others may progress more slowly," the official communique reads.

GBS can occur within 1 to 3 weeks of the infection caused by Campylobacter jejuni.

The doctors have urged people to seek medical assistance when they see symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and nausea or vomiting.

Signs like sudden weakness in the legs or arms, difficulty walking or numbness and persistent diarrhea especially if it is bloody.

How to stay safe?

To stay safe from GBS, one needs to stay safe from Campylobacter jejuni. In areas where there has been an outbreak, people are advised to boil water before drinking, wash fruits and vegetable properly, cook meat properly and avoid eating undercooked eggs and sea food.

Apart from diet and drinking habit, one needs to follow basic hygiene like washing hands with soap and water before eating and after using toilet. People are also advised to keep kitchen and utensils clean and disinfected.