Muscle weakness or paralysis starts in the legs and feet. It progresses up toward the arms and head. The spread from feet to head can occur within 24 and 72 hours but can take longer. Sometimes it starts in the arms and moves downward. Sometimes it starts in the arms and legs at the same time.
Symptoms can range from a feeling of general weakness to total paralysis.
The exact cause is not known. It could be secondary to an infectious disease, including some viral infections. Usually Guillain-Barre follows an infection of the upper respiratory system or stomach. These infections have gone away before the signs of Guillain-Barre emerge. Approximately eight out of 100,000 people develop the condition.