Guillain-Barré syndrome after varicella-zoster virus infection

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Inan, Yasemin | Degerliyurt, Aydan | Uysal, Hilmi | Keyik, Bahri | Uysal, Gulnar

Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye | Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye | Department of Pediatrics, Ministry of Health Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye | Department of Radiology, Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye | Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

Note: [] Correspondence: Yasemin Inan, M.D., 4. Cadde, 69. Sokak, No. 5/19, 06450 Ovecler, Dikmen, Ankara, Turkiye. Tel.: +90 312 481 87 58; Fax: +90 312 221 32 76; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory, demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. The neurological complications of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection are usually cerebellar ataxia and other forms of encephalitis. VZV is associated with only 1% of the GBS cases. GBS may present as a clinical picture mimicking encephalitis. We report a patient with GBS who presented with altered consciousness and flaccid paralysis of the legs, three weeks after VZV infection.

Keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome, encephalitis, child

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Neurology, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 265-268, 2007