This is a rare autoimmune condition that causes your immune system to attack your nerves, according to Healthline.com. This can lead to a number of health complications, and can also land a patient in a wheelchair.
How rare is the syndrome? Healthline notes it affects only 1 in 100,000-Americans, however there is currently no cure, so clearly more research needs to be done. Here are six things to know about the potentially debilitating illness…
1. The Exact Cause is Unknown
Healthline explains that researchers aren’t sure exactly what triggers Guillain-Barré syndrome, but there are some hints – for example, the source notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that about 66-percent of patients develop it following a bout of diarrhea or respiratory infection.
That information, says Healthline, suggests the immune system may be responding in an improper way to a previous illness – which could cause it to spin out of control. Campylobacter jejuni infections, which are often caused by bacteria in undercooked food, is the most common risk factor for the syndrome, adds the source.
