Maharashtra reported its second suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) death this week, with the death of a 56-year-old woman in Pune. Three people, including a child, have also died due to suspected GBS in West Bengal over the past four days.
According to reports, the woman died on Tuesday following respiratory failure with sepsis. She had also been suffering from oral cancer and was admitted to a local hospital on January 15 after complaining of weakness. She was later referred to the Sassoon General Hospital.
The case comes mere days after another Pune resident, a 40-year-old man from the Dhayari area, died in Solapur from suspected GBS. Doctors have sent his report for further analysis to ascertain whether his death was due to GBS.
Three people in the eastern state have died due to suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome in the past four days. The health department has yet to officially confirm the cause of death, but insisted that there was no cause for alarm. All three individuals had died in government hospitals in Kolkata and Hooghly district. Family members have claimed that they died from the immunological nerve disorder.
“The hospital told us that the condition of Debkumar kept on deteriorating while being treated. They did not tell us that the cause of his death was GB syndrome, but in the death certificate, the suspected GB syndrome was mentioned,” said the family of one victim.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. It is potentially life-threatening, but most people recover fully from even the most severe cases of GBS. In rare cases, it can result in near-total paralysis and breathing problems.
“The syndrome can affect the nerves that control muscle movement as well as those that transmit pain, temperature and touch sensations. This can result in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, and problems swallowing or breathing. It is a rare condition, and while it is more common in adults and in males, people of all ages can be affected,” WHO wrote on its factsheet.
(With inputs from agencies)
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