Abstract
BackgroundGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in the post-poliomyelitis eradication era. This is the first study done to identify the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of GBS in Iraqi children over 15 years.MethodsThe surveillance database about AFP cases < 15 years reported during January 1997-December 2011 was used.ResultsGBS represented 52.5% of AFP cases, with an incidence of 1.33 case/100,000 population < 15 years/year. There was a higher incidence in the Southern provinces, age group 1–4 years, males, and outside the capital city of province, with no significant seasonal variations (p = .22). Survival probability after the 1 year of onset for those with respiratory muscle involvement was .76 (95% CI: .60-.86), versus .97 (95% Cl: .96-.98) for those who did not develop it (p < .001); and .97 (95% CI: .96-.98) for those living inside the capital city, versus .94 (.93-.95) for those living outside (p = .001). Cumulative incidence of residual paralysis for patients living inside the capital city was .21 (95% CI: .18-.24), versus .27 (95% CI: .25-.29) for those living outside (p < .001).ConclusionsThe incidence, age and gender distribution, and seasonality of GBS among Iraqi children is similar to those reported from other previous studies. It is the most important cause of AFP, especially in those between the age of 1 to 4 years living in rural areas.
Highlights
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in the post-poliomyelitis eradication era
The surveillance database about acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases under the age of 15 reported from Iraq during January 1997 to December 2011 was used in the current study
AFP surveillance is an essential strategy of the Polio Eradication Initiative adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988
Summary
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in the post-poliomyelitis eradication era. This is the first study done to identify the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of GBS in Iraqi children over 15 years. GBS is considered the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis in the post-poliomyelitis eradication era [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. Measuring the outcome of the disease in terms of mortality and morbidity can help direct attention towards modifying the risk factors of adverse disease outcomes This is the first study done to identify the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of GBS in Iraqi children over 15 years of study
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