Guwahati hosp reports Assam’s 1st GBS death, govt yet to confirm

Guwahati: A teenage girl succumbed to suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) at a private healthcare facility in Guwahati, marking the first such fatality in Assam due to GBS since November-end, medical professionals at the hospital confirmed on Saturday.

However, an official confirmation from the state health department is awaited to ascertain whether it was the season's first such fatality in the state.

"In Pratiksha Hospital Guwahati, a 17-year-old female patient was admitted on Jan 21 with GBS and a prior history of diarrhoea a week ago. The girl was on a ventilator for the past 11 days and succumbed on Jan 31," a spokesperson of the hospital said.

According to physicians, GBS is a rare but treatable neurological condition where the immune system attacks the nerves, resulting in weakness in the upper and lower limbs, neck, face, and eyes. Tingling or numbness, difficulty in walking, swallowing, or breathing in severe cases are observed.

"The cause of GBS may remain inconclusive in most cases. But varying reports indicate it manifests following infections like viral or bacterial illness, including campylobacter jejuni, CMV, EBV," a health specialist said.

He added that the illness often commences suddenly and can progress over four weeks. "Some patients may experience rapid deterioration, while others may progress more slowly. Severe cases might require ICU admission and ventilatory support," he said, adding, treatments include injections of IVIg or plasma exchange (similar to dialysis).

The girl's family originally hailed from Bihar but they were residing in Assam for quite some time now. The deceased girl's father is a central govt employee.

An official of the hospital management said the parents were preparing to shift her to Delhi for advanced treatment and an air ambulance was also being arranged. However, due to her health condition, it was not possible, and she died on Friday.