Objective: To prospectively assess the outcome of children diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), followed up for a median duration of 25 months.
Methods: Tertiary center, prospective follow up of children with GBS enrolled between, Dec 2003 to Sep 2006. Functional recovery was determined at 12 months and later using Hughes scale (0-6). Clinical, electrophysiological variables were compared between the good outcome (grade 0/1) and bad outcome groups (died or functional grade >1).
Results: Among 52 children with a median age of five yr there was male preponderance (75.4%). Mortality during acute phase was 11.5% (6/52). Among the survivors long term data was obtainable in 40 of the 46 children. At one year follow up 87.5% children had fully recovered or had minimal symptoms, beyond one year this rose to 95%. Only 2 among 40 had significant symptoms at last follow up (1 grade-2 and 1 grade-3). Factors significantly associated with poor outcome were: need for artificial ventilation, inexitable nerves on nerve conduction testing and delayed independent walking.
Conclusion: Children needing ventilation have the worst short-term prognosis. However, irrespective of severity during acute phase, good long-term recovery can be expected in most children.