Jaipur: Over the past two months, SMS Hospital documented 29 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, with two fatalities. The sudden increase in GBS cases during this period prompted the health department to issue alerts for monitoring potential disease outbreaks.
According to SMS Hospital authorities, all patients received appropriate medical care, including intensive care treatment for those who required it. The hospital confirmed that 27 out of the 29 affected individuals successfully recovered.
“Of 29 patients we received in Jan and Feb this year, four were admitted to ICU. Two of the patients admitted to ICU recovered while two died,” said Dr Sunil Mahawar, nodal officer for seasonal diseases.
Dr Mahawar added, “The initial symptoms of BGS are vomiting and diarrhoea, but after 10 to 15 days, when symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting subside, the patient reports symptoms of GBS. Not all cases of vomiting and diarrhoea are related to GBS, but sporadic cases of diarrhoea and vomiting could be related to GBS. So people should not worry if they have diarrhoea or vomiting, but there are rare chances of GBS as vomiting and diarrhoea are initial symptoms of GBS.”
SMS Hospital has found that a specific bacteria commonly found in undercooked poultry, unhygienic water contamination, and unpasteurised milk, known as Campylobacter jejuni bacteria, is discovered as a cause of GBS in patients admitted to SMS Hospital.
The patients with GBS report symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and meningitis-related signs such as fever, headache, and disorientation. An SMS Hospital doctor said GBS causes muscle weakness and paralysis. The patients brought to the SMS Hospital complained of weakness in legs.
SMS Hospital officials said patients admitted for treatment of GBS responded well to treatment and recovered, but two died who had severe symptoms.
According to medical experts, heat treatment, such as cooking or pasteurisation, and drinking clean water remain the sole effective methods for eliminating Campylobacter from contaminated food items.
