To Study the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in Children Presenting with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Sara  Ambreen; Rehmana  Waris; Faiza  Qayyum; Muhammad  Tariq; Sana  Ejaz; Rashiqa  Saadat

doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v6i3.1609

Authors

Sara Ambreen Department of Pediatric Medicine, Children Hospital PIMS Islamabad, Pakistan
Rehmana Waris Department of Pediatric Medicine, Children Hospital PIMS Islamabad, Pakistan
Faiza Qayyum Department of Pediatric Medicine, Children Hospital PIMS Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Tariq Department of Pediatric Medicine, Children Hospital PIMS Islamabad, Pakistan
Sana Ejaz Department of Pediatric Medicine, Children Hospital PIMS Islamabad, Pakistan
Rashiqa Saadat Department of Pediatric Medicine, Children Hospital PIMS Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v6i3.1609

Keywords:

Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Pediatrics, Quality of Life, Disability Evaluation, Cross-Sectional Studies

Abstract

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening neurological disorder caused by an aberrant autoimmune response, leading to acute inflammation and damage to the peripheral nerves. Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive description of the impact of GBS on children, including functional disability and health-related quality of life, using the Hughes score. Methodology: This Cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the inpatient and outpatient departments of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Children's Hospital, Islamabad. Seventy-four children aged 1- 12 with GBS were recruited and followed for 1 year. Clinical characteristics of the disease, functional disability score, and HRQOL were reported at 3 and 6 months. Results: The Study showed a male predominance (78.4%) and the majority aged < 5 years (47.3%). Seasonal variation revealed the highest incidence during winter (62.2%), followed by summer (18.9%). Preceding symptoms included upper respiratory tract infections (35.1%) and diarrhea (18.9%); the rest of the children had no preceding risk factors. The clinical presentation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the study cohort was dominated by limb weakness (100%) and areflexia (100%), with muscle pain also being prevalent (83.8%). Complications included cranial nerve palsies (41.9%) and autonomic instability (55.4%). At discharge, 50% required walking assistance, and 44.6% were bedridden or chair-bound. Over six months, significant functional improvements were observed, with 86.1% having normal function and only 8.3% still needing walking assistance. Health-related quality of life assessments showed marked physical, emotional, and social enhancements over three and six months. However, two patients (2.7%) experienced rapid disease progression leading to death, underscoring the severity of GBS despite overall positive outcomes. Conclusion: It is concluded that Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) significantly impacts the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children, affecting their physical, emotional, and social well-being.

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