Neurological Disorders Archives - InnoHEALTH magazine https://ztt.nrm.mybluehostin.me/innohealthmagazinetag/neurological-disorders/ India's first magazine on healthcare innovations Wed, 29 Jan 2025 04:00:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://innohealthmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/innohealthmagazine-favicon.png Neurological Disorders Archives - InnoHEALTH magazine https://ztt.nrm.mybluehostin.me/innohealthmagazinetag/neurological-disorders/ 32 32 139068796 Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Global Perspective on a Rising Concern https://innohealthmagazine.com/2025/in-focus/guillain-barre-syndrome-a-global-perspective-on-a-rising-concern/ https://innohealthmagazine.com/2025/in-focus/guillain-barre-syndrome-a-global-perspective-on-a-rising-concern/#respond Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:30:00 +0000 https://innohealthmagazine.com/?p=20151 The recent surge in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune, India, has brought this rare neurological disorder into the spotlight. With over 100 suspected cases and Maharashtra state reporting its...

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]]> The recent surge in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune, India, has brought this rare neurological disorder into the spotlight. With over 100 suspected cases and Maharashtra state reporting its first suspected GBS death, the outbreak has raised concerns about the global impact of this condition.

Understanding GBS

GBS is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness, tingling, and even paralysis. While the exact cause remains unknown, it is often preceded by an infection, such as a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness.

Global Incidence and Variations

The World Health Organization estimates approximately 100,000 people develop GBS each year worldwide, with a fatality rate between 3% and 7%, leading to an estimated 3,000 to 7,000 deaths annually. However, the incidence of GBS varies across regions, with higher rates observed in North America, Europe, and Australia (1-2 cases per 100,000 people) compared to Asia and Africa (0.4-1 case per 100,000 people). This variation may be attributed to differences in genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and exposure to infectious triggers.

Different subtypes of GBS also exhibit regional variations. AIDP, the most common subtype in Western countries, is characterized by demyelination, or damage to the protective covering of nerves. In contrast, AMAN and AMSAN, more prevalent in East Asia, involve axonal damage, affecting the nerve fibers themselves.

Triggers: A Diverse Range

Infections are the most common triggers for GBS globally, but the specific pathogens involved can differ. Campylobacter jejuni is frequently implicated in developed countries, while Zika virus has been linked to outbreaks in the Americas. Other viruses and bacteria, such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and norovirus, have also been associated with GBS.

Treatment and Outcomes

Despite the variations in incidence, subtypes, and triggers, the primary treatment options for GBS remain consistent globally. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin are commonly used to reduce the severity and duration of the illness.

Most individuals with GBS recover, but the recovery period can range from weeks to months, and some may experience long-term complications such as fatigue, pain, and muscle weakness. The mortality rate is generally low but can be higher in individuals with severe complications or underlying health conditions.

Global Challenges and Future Directions

Several challenges remain in addressing GBS globally. Improved surveillance systems are needed to accurately track incidence and identify potential outbreaks. Continued research is crucial to better understand the causes, mechanisms, and risk factors associated with GBS.

Ensuring access to timely diagnosis and treatment, particularly in resource-limited settings, is essential for improving outcomes. International collaboration and research efforts are vital for developing more targeted prevention and treatment strategies to address this global health challenge.

Conclusion

The recent GBS outbreak in Pune serves as a reminder of the global nature of this rare but serious neurological disorder. By understanding the variations in incidence, subtypes, triggers, and outcomes across different regions, healthcare professionals and researchers can work towards a more comprehensive approach to managing GBS and improving the lives of those affected worldwide.

Composed by:

InnoHEALTH magazine digital team

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]]> https://innohealthmagazine.com/2025/in-focus/guillain-barre-syndrome-a-global-perspective-on-a-rising-concern/feed/ 0 20151 Rising burden of non-communicable diseases https://innohealthmagazine.com/2018/issues/rising-burden-of-non-communicable-diseases/ https://innohealthmagazine.com/2018/issues/rising-burden-of-non-communicable-diseases/#respond Thu, 03 May 2018 11:13:40 +0000 https://ztt.nrm.mybluehostin.me/innohealthmagazine?p=3948 The contribution of most of the major non-communicable disease groups to the total disease burden has increased all over India since 1990

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The contribution of most of the major non-communicable disease groups to the total disease burden has increased all over India since 1990, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, mental health and neurological disorders, cancers, musculoskeletal disorders and chronic kidney disease.

On the other hand, the DALY rates of stroke varied across the states without any consistent pattern in relation to the stage of epidemiological transition. This variety of trends of the different major non-communicable diseases indicates that policy and health system interventions to tackle their increasing burden have to be informed by the specific trends in each state. Increasing but variable burden of injuries among states.

The contribution of injuries to the total disease burden has increased in most states since 1990. The highest proportion of disease burden due to injuries is in young adults. Road injuries and self-harm, which includes suicides and non-fatal outcomes of self-harm, are the leading contributors to the injury burden in India. The range of disease burden or DALY rate varied 3 fold for road injuries and 6 fold for self-harm among the states of India in 2016. There was no consistent relationship between the DALY rates of road injuries or self-harm versus the stage of epidemiological transition of the states. The burden due to road injuries was much higher in males than in females. The DALY rate for self-harm for India as a whole was 1.8 times higher than the average globally for other geographies at a similar level of development in 2016.

The report says the disease burden due to child and maternal malnutrition has dropped in India substantially since 1990; this is still the single largest risk factor, responsible for 15% of the total disease burden in India in 2016.

This burden is highest in the major EAG states and Assam, and is higher in females than in males. Child and maternal malnutrition contributes to disease burden mainly through increasing the risk of neonatal disorders, nutritional deficiencies, diarrhoeal diseases, lower respiratory infections, and other common infections. As a stark contrast, the disease burden due to child and maternal malnutrition in India was 12 times higher per person than in China in 2016.

Kerala had the lowest burden due to this risk among the Indian states, but even this was 2.7 times higher per person than in China.

This situation after decades of nutritional interventions in the country must be rectified as one of the highest priorities for health improvement in India. Unsafe water and sanitation improving, but not enough yet Unsafe water and sanitation was the second leading risk responsible for disease burden in India in 1990, but dropped to the seventh leading risk in 2016, contributing 5% of the total disease burden, mainly through diarrheal diseases and other infections. The burden due to this risk is also highest in several EAG states and Assam, and higher in females than in males.

The improvement in exposure to this risk from 1990 to 2016 was least in the EAG states, indicating that higher focus is needed in these states for more rapid improvements.

Remarkably, the per person disease burden due to unsafe water and sanitation was 40 times higher in India than in China in 2016. The massive effort of the ongoing Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has the potential to improve this situation. Improvement was notice in household air pollution. Outdoor pollution worsened air pollution and remained high in India between 1990 and 2016, with levels of exposure among the highest in the world.

It causes burden through a mix of non-communicable and infectious diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and lower respiratory infections.

The burden of household air pollution decreased during this period due to decreasing use of solid fuels for cooking, and that of outdoor air pollution increased due to a variety of pollutants from power production, industry, vehicles, construction, and waste burning. Household air pollution was responsible for 5% of the total disease burden in India in 2016, and outdoor air pollution for 6%. The burden due to household air pollution is highest in the EAG states, where its improvement since 1990 has also been the slowest.

On the other hand, the burden due to outdoor air pollution is highest in a mix of northern states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal. Control of air pollution has to be ramped up through inter-sectoral collaborations based on the specific situation of each state.

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