New Delhi:
A man in Maharashtra, who was suspected to have Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), died in Solapur district today, while the number of cases of the immunological neurological disorder crossed 100 in Pune.
This is reportedly the first death in Maharashtra due to GBS. The 40-year-old man, a native of Solapur, had come to Pune, where he is suspected to have contracted the disease.
The Union Health Ministry has sent a team to Sinhagad area of Pune, where the outbreak is currently concentrated.
symptoms of gbs
GBS is a neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. It is part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. The onset of GBS is quite sudden and unexpected.
The first symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome include weakness or tingling sensations. They usually start in the legs and may spread to the arms and face, The World Health Organization explains.
Many people have back pain or pain in their arms or legs. A neurological examination usually reveals loss of all deep tendon reflexes.
For some people, these symptoms can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms, or muscles in the face. In about a third of people, the chest muscles are affected, making breathing difficult, he said.
In severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, the ability to speak and swallow may be affected.
GBS patients require immediate hospitalization and symptoms may develop over a few days or a few weeks, with greatest weakness occurring within the first few weeks after symptoms appear, States Johns Hopkins Medicine.
How to prevent GBS?
In an advisory, the state health department shared that one can prevent GBS to some extent by taking general precautions such as drinking boiled water/bottled water, washing fruits, and cooking poultry and meat thoroughly before eating vegetables. First; Avoiding raw or undercooked food, especially salads, eggs, kebabs or seafood.
It suggested keeping raw and cooked foods separate, disinfecting kitchen surfaces and utensils after handling raw meat, as well as adopting general hygiene measures such as frequent hand washing with soap, especially Before eating and after using the toilet.
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