Guillain Barre Syndrome Rise in Maharashtra 16 New Cases Reported and 127 GBS Patients Found So Far

Cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome have been on the rise in the state of Maharashtra recently, 16 new cases reported and 127 Guillain Barre Syndrome patients found so far. A Solapur resident died from what is most likely GBS and four patients were admitted to medical centres in Nagpur, including an 8-year-old and a 40-year-old.

Pune has recently recorded over 111 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), with one suspected fatality reported in Solapur. Of these, at least 17 patients are on ventilators, and seven have been discharged. The situation has raised concerns, prompting health experts to issue a warning about potential causes of the rare but treatable condition.

The fatality was a 40-year-old man from Solapur, who had traveled to Pune, where he is believed to have contracted the disease. “The patient, suffering from symptoms like breathlessness, weakness in lower limbs, Diarrhea, was admitted to a private hospital (in Solapur) on January 18 as he was on ventilator support on and off. He died on Sunday,” said Dr. Sanjiv Thakur, Dean of Solapur Government Medical College.

According to Dr Priyanka Sehrawat from AIIMS Delhi highlighted that gastroenteritis, often caused by contaminated food and water, is a key trigger for GBS. She advised people to avoid eating out and to be cautious about food and water safety. Foods such as paneer, cheese, and rice are particularly vulnerable to bacterial growth if not stored or handled properly. To boost immunity, she recommended including vitamin C-rich foods in the diet.

Guillain Barre Syndrome 127 Cases Reported So Far in Maharashtra

“As of today, 127 suspected cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) have been identified, with 2 suspected deaths. Out of these, 72 patients have been confirmed as having GBS. 23 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 73 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 13 from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, 9 from Pune Rural, and 9 from other districts. Among the affected individuals, 20 are currently on ventilator support,” Maharashtra Health Department said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Guillain Barre Syndrome Symptoms and Causes

Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. It can cause weakness, numbness or paralysis. The symptoms of GBS typically begin with weakness or tingling sensations in the legs, which can spread to the arms and face. In some individuals, this can progress to paralysis, including the chest muscles, making breathing difficult.

Weakness and tingling in the hands and feet are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread and may lead to paralysis. In its most serious form Guillain Barre syndrome lead to muscle weakness, loss of sensation in limbs, and in severe cases, problems with breathing and swallowing. The disease is rare but can be life-threatening, particularly if it affects the muscles that control respiration.

In severe cases, it may affect the ability to speak or swallow. “Even in the best of settings, a small number of Guillain-Barré syndrome patients die from complications, which can include paralysis of the muscles that control breathing, blood infection, lung clots, or cardiac arrest,” according to the WHO.