Prognostic models for pediatric Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Europe is our playground.

Abstract

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a severe, acute, post-infectious, immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy with an annual incidence in children under 15 years old ranging from 0.34 to 1.34 per 100,000 [ [1] Chaweekulrat P. Sanmaneechai O. Prognostic model for time to achieve independent walking in children with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Pediatr. Res. 2022; 92: 1417-1422 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar ]. Patients usually present with progressive monophasic ascending muscle weakness, sensory deficit, and diminished deep tendon reflexes. Clinical features and outcomes in children differ from adults. The most common presenting symptoms of GBS in children are difficulty walking and pain. The disease varies from mild to severe, including the inability to walk independently and respiratory failure. Mortality occurs in fewer than 2% of children with GBS. The most common causes of death are pulmonary complications or autonomic dysfunction, including cardiac arrhythmias. Compared to adults, the prognosis in children is favorable. Ninety percent of pediatric patients will be able to walk independently within 6 months and 97.6% will be able to walk independently within 1 year after the onset of weakness, compared to only 80% in adult patients at 6 months and 84% at 1 year [ [1] Chaweekulrat P. Sanmaneechai O. Prognostic model for time to achieve independent walking in children with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Pediatr. Res. 2022; 92: 1417-1422 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar ].