Peru declares health emergency over Guillain-Barré syndrome outbreak
Guillain Barré Syndrome is considered a rare disease, presenting a wide variety of signs and symptoms. Various infections have been associated as a cause of the disease.
On Saturday (08), the minister visited patients and took the opportunity to learn about the technology and treatments provided by the INCN to fight the disease - Photo Reproduction / Ministry of Health of Peru (Minsa)
The government of Peru decreed on Sunday (09) a state of health emergency across the country for a period of 90 days. This measure was taken in response to an atypical outbreak of cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a disease that affected the nervous system and resulted in the death of four people.
Decree
The Ministry of Health issued a statement announcing the declaration of a national state of emergency due to an alarming and unusual increase in the number of cases. According to the ministry's latest balance sheet, the number of deaths caused by the syndrome has reached four, while registered cases already exceed 180 between January and July. This emergency situation covers all 25 regions of the country. The Minister of Health, César Vásquez, said that this measure will allow the government to acquire immunoglobulin for the treatment of patients hospitalized for the disease over the next two years.
"There has been a significant increase in recent weeks, which obliges us to take State measures to protect the health and life of the population," Health Minister César Vásquez told the press.
Guillain Barre syndrome
Guillain Barre syndrome It is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the body's immune response against its own nervous system, specifically the nerves that connect the brain to other parts of the body. This disorder is usually triggered by a previous infection and is manifested by muscle weakness, as well as a decrease or absence of reflexes. Among the various infections associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a more commonly related infection is caused by the bacteria Campylobacter, which is responsible for symptoms of diarrhea.
Minister César Vásquez visiting on Saturday (08) two patients with Guillain Barré syndrome who are hospitalized at the National Institute of Neurological Sciences (INCN) - Photo Reproduction / Ministry of Health of Peru (Minsa)
Cause
Several have been associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, caused by the bacteria Campylobacter, other infections found in the scientific literature that can trigger this disease include Zika, dengue, chikungunya, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, measles, influenza A virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, enterovirus D68, hepatitis A, B, C, HIV, among others . Many viruses and bacteria have been tentatively linked to the development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, although it is generally difficult to verify the true causality of the disease.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made through the cerebrospinal fluid analysis (liqueur) and electrophysiological tests. The relationship between Guillain-Barré Syndrome and the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dengue, chikungunya and Zika infections, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, can result in various clinical syndromes, from mild febrile illnesses to hemorrhagic fevers and neuroinvasive forms, including acute cases of encephalitis, myelitis, encephalomyelitis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome and others. central or peripheral neurological syndromes diagnosed by medical specialists.
Guillain Barré Syndrome is a disease considered rare, presenting a wide variety of signs and symptoms that can vary not only from disease to disease, but also from person to person affected by the same condition. These frequent manifestations can resemble common diseases, which makes diagnosis difficult and causes great clinical and psychosocial suffering for both patients and their families.
Rare diseases
Rare diseases are usually chronic, progressive and disabling, and can be degenerative and even fatal, significantly impacting the quality of life of people and their families. In addition, many of these diseases cannot be cured, and treatment focuses mainly on clinical, physiotherapeutic, speech therapy, psychotherapeutic, among others, with the aim of relieving symptoms or delaying their progression.
A rare disease is one that affects up to 65 people per 100,000 individuals, that is, approximately 1.3 people per 2,000 individuals. The exact number of rare diseases is still unknown, but it is estimated that there are between 6,000 to 8,000 different types of these diseases worldwide, with about 80% of them being caused by genetic factors, while the remainder have their origin in environmental, infectious, immunological causes, among others.
