Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder typically causing rapid weakness and generally has an excellent prognosis for recovery. One of the main problems is the lack of experience of general doctors and emergency doctors in recognizing the symptoms of GBS quickly so that treatment can be started.

One of the symptoms that is often misdiagnosed is the pain that patients with early GBS often experience. This can be an aching pain in the legs or arms, back pain going in title legs or a burning feeling in the hands or feet. The general doctor will open mistake this for a viral infection, arthritis or over use and give the patient pain medication and send them home. The next event typically involves increasing weakness or pain and treatment is delayed until the patient comes back for a visit and the correct diagnosis is made. This can result in the person having a longer recovery than would have been the case if the diagnosis was made early. The challenge is to educate the general physician and emergency physician in recognizing the different symptoms of GBS.

Other challenges exist with variants of classic GBS. This can be seen where the eyes and balance are mainly affected or there is little weakness but more numbness. Most general doctors are trained to think of severe weakness when making the diagnosis of GBS. The more unusual features of GBS variants can cause a delay or wrong diagnosis.

The key point to take from this discussion is that people with GBS can look many different ways and there is not one GBS picture. Doctors need to be made aware of the presentation of GBS though education. A good source of information is from the Guillain-Barré Syndrome Foundation and its local chapters. This helps doctors and other health providers learn to recognize the symptoms of GBS quickly.