Characteristics and outcomes of Guillain–Barré syndrome in children at Infectious Diseases – Neurology Department, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is one of the leading causes of acute paralysis in children. Our aim was to describe the clinical characteristics, paraclinical features, and recovery outcomes of children with GBS. METHODS: This is a prospective study of 40 children diagnosed with GBS from January 2021 to December 2022. Data on demographics, clinical features, treatments, complications and outcomes were collected at follow-up time points based on the GDS score. RESULTS: In the study of 40 children, the number of male children with GBS was predominant (82.5%), and more than 50% of GBS patients were older than 10 years. Seventy-five percent of patients with GBS had a preceding infection, with respiratory tract infections being the most common. The most common initial symptom was leg pain, followed by bulbar palsy (47.5%). Albuminocytologic dissociation (ACD) rate within the first 7 days was 73.3%. Based on nerve conduction study (NCS) results, the phenotypes were distributed as follows: AIDP accounted for 55%; AMSAN for 17.5%; AMAN for 10%; inexcitable nerves for 5%; and unclassifiable cases for 12.5%. At the 6-month follow-up, 100% of pediatric patients achieved independent ambulation. Furthermore, a correlation was found between mechanical ventilation and GDS scores at 1 and 2 months; however, no association was observed at 3 and 6 months post-onset. CONCLUSION: In pediatric GBS, the most common initial manifestations are limb pain and paresthesia. Most patients achieve good recovery; the need for mechanical ventilation is associated with bulbar weakness, facial paralysis, pneumonia, and severe initial limb weakness.