Guillain-Barré Syndrome can occur after a vaccine like the flu shot, or an infectious illness such as a respiratory infection or the stomach flu.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system, which is the network of nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord. GBS can range from a very mild case with brief weakness to nearly devastating paralysis, leaving the person unable to breathe independently. While most people eventually recover from even the most severe cases of GBS, permanent catastrophic outcomes and death can result. After recovery, some people will continue to have some degree of weakness, numbness, tingling, neuropathic pain and fatigue. (cite: Rodríguez, Y., Rojas, M., Pacheco, Y. et al. Guillain–Barré syndrome, transverse myelitis and infectious diseases. Cell Mol Immunol 15, 547–562 (2018)).
Guillain-Barré syndrome can affect anyone at any age. It is more frequent in adults and older people, and both genders are equally susceptible to the disorder (despite some studies indicating that GBS is more prevalent in men than women). GBS is estimated to affect about one person in 100,000 each year.