GBS can become life-threatening if the respiratory muscles are affected. If the disease is very severe, the patient may have a fluctuating blood pressure or abnormal heart rhythm. Guillain-Barre Syndrome can affect anybody. It can strike at any age, and both sexes are equally prone to the disorder. There are several different types of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Most patients improve within days to weeks if treated very early.
Otherwise, recovery takes several months, but most people recover almost completely. The cause of GBS is an area of active debate and neurological investigation. The most compelling case for a direct relation between the Guillain-Barre Syndrome and preceding infections derives from experience with the enteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Sources of Campylobacter include raw and undercooked poultry, raw milk, and polluted water. A major debate is over the possibility that the influenza vaccine and GBS are related.