Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
A neurologist, a doctor who treats nerve and brain disorders, usually leads care for Guillain-Barre syndrome. Severe cases can affect breathing, so treatment often starts in a hospital. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder of the nerves. The immune system, the body's defense system, mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system. This is the network of nerves that carries signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. GBS begins suddenly and can get worse over hours, days, or weeks. Some cases are very mild, with only brief weakness. In severe cases, a person can become almost paralyzed, which is life-threatening. Most people eventually recover, even from the most severe cases.
Symptoms
Weakness often starts in the feet and can move up the body to the legs, arms, face, and breathing muscles. Weakness on both sides of the body is typical. Most people are weakest within the first two weeks after symptoms appear. Other symptoms may include:
- Tingling, or pins and needles, in the hands and feet.
- Pain that can be severe, especially at night.
- Trouble with eye muscles and vision.
- Trouble swallowing, speaking, or chewing.
- Poor coordination and unsteadiness.
- A heart rate or blood pressure that is not normal.
- Problems with digestion or bladder control.
- Weak or missing reflexes, such as the knee jerk.
Miller Fisher syndrome is a type of GBS. Its main symptoms are weak or paralyzed eye muscles and problems with balance and coordination.
Causes and who gets it
Doctors do not know the exact cause of GBS. It is called an autoimmune disease, because the body's own immune system does the damage. In GBS, the immune system attacks healthy nerves. GBS usually starts a few days or weeks after a respiratory or digestive infection caused by bacteria or a virus. One of the most common risk factors is infection with Campylobacter jejuni, a bacteria that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Surgery can sometimes trigger it. In very rare cases, certain vaccines may raise the risk. GBS can affect anyone, but it most often affects adults and people older than 50. GBS is not contagious or inherited.
How doctors diagnose it
GBS can be hard to diagnose early, because other disorders have similar symptoms. A doctor reviews your medical history and does a physical exam. The doctor checks your reflexes, because some reflexes are lost in GBS. A nerve conduction test measures how well a nerve sends a signal. In GBS, signals along damaged nerves are slowed. A spinal tap collects the fluid around the spinal cord for testing. In people with GBS, this fluid has more protein and fewer immune cells. An MRI scan of the spine or brain may help find other causes of muscle weakness.
Treatment
There is no cure for GBS, but some treatments can reduce how severe it is and shorten recovery. People are usually treated in the hospital, often in the intensive care unit. There, staff can closely watch muscle weakness, breathing, and heart rate. Two treatments are commonly used to stop the immune attack on the nerves. Both work equally well if started within two weeks of symptoms.
- Plasma exchange removes some blood, separates the plasma (the liquid part of blood) from the blood cells, and returns the cells with replacement fluid.
- Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) gives immunoglobulins, which are proteins made from the blood of thousands of healthy donors.
Steroid medicines have been tried, but clinical trials show they are not effective for GBS. Some people need a ventilator, a machine that helps with breathing. Doctors also work to prevent problems such as blood clots. As people improve, rehabilitation therapy can help them regain strength and return to daily activities. Most people with GBS have a full recovery, though recovery can be slow. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. Some people have long-term weakness, numbness, fatigue, or pain.
When to see a doctor
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing, trouble swallowing or choking on food or liquids, fainting, or weakness in your legs that keeps getting worse. GBS can get worse quickly and can affect the breathing muscles.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can review your history, do a first exam, and refer you quickly to a neurologist or a hospital.
Common questions
Is Guillain-Barre syndrome contagious?
No, GBS is not contagious or inherited.
Can Guillain-Barre syndrome be cured?
No, there is no cure for GBS. Some treatments can reduce how severe it is and shorten recovery time.
Do people fully recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Most people do, but not everyone. Some people have long-term weakness, numbness, fatigue, or pain.
Can a vaccine cause Guillain-Barre syndrome?
Rarely. In very rare cases, certain vaccines may raise the risk of GBS. GBS more often starts after an infection.
Is Guillain-Barre syndrome life threatening?
It can be, in severe cases. Even so, most people eventually recover from even the most severe cases.
Sources
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- MedlinePlus - Guillain-Barre syndrome
- MedlinePlus - Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
