The Guillain-Barre syndrome and its variants in childhood

In children, the course of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in the acute phase is similar to that in adults. However, the long-term outcome is much better. This holds not true for the variant with myelitic involvement and for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) that can give rise to significant longterm disability. In children with acute GBS who are unable to walk without help, recovery of walking ability can be accelerated by treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins or plasmapheresis. Treatment is recommended in this situation. However, in the individual case it will remain unclear whether the subsequent recovery is due to a treatment effect or to the spontaneous course. Treatment studies in children or adults still being able to walk have not yet been performed. CIDP usually takes a protracted, disabling course even when the patient stays able to walk. In these patients, mobility and social adjustment can be restored by treatment with corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or plasmapheresis.