Demographics, clinical features, outcome and prognostic factors of Guillain-Barre syndrome in Thai children.

OBJECTIVE: To describe demographics, clinical profiles, management, outcomes and to determine factors associated with severity in Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS).

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Medical records of GBS patients in Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health during 2000-2009 were searched. The data included demographics, clinical features, management and outcomes after 6 months to determine prognostic factors.

RESULTS: Forty-eight patients with GBS were studies. Mean age of onset was 5 years. Male and female ratio was 1.4:1. History of antecedent infection was 73%. Clinical presentations included limb weakness 100%, respiratory distress 27%, facial palsy 27%, autonomic nervous dysfunction 22% and ataxia 17%. Nerve conduction study revealed demyelinating process in 57%, axonopathy in 26% and mixed type in 17%. Clinical outcomes were satisfactory in most of the patients except three patients who still had disability eighteen months after onset. Autonomic nervous dysfunction was a significant factor to determine the severity.

CONCLUSION: The demographic and clinical features of GBS were similar to other published studies. The autonomic nervous dysfunction was a significant predictor for adverse clinical course. All but three patients had complete, full recovery.