The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Scientists at a symposium yesterday said after the eradication of polio, Guillain- Barre Syndrome (GBS) is now frequently causing acute paralysis in the country.

Up to 3,500 patients get the disease every year in Bangladesh, which is two to three times higher in comparison with the worldwide incidence.

They said that GBS is a rare nervous system disorder, usually triggered by an acute respiratory or intestinal infection. It causes muscle weakness, loss of reflexes and numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, face and other parts of the body that rapidly progress to complete paralysis.

They also called upon all to focus on it seriously and suggested that government and other organisations involved in the health sectors to play an important role in combating this new disease.

Their observation came at the symposium on ' GBS' in Bangladesh and revealing the preliminary study of this disease by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) at Sasakawa auditorium at Mohakhali in the city.

They said a variety of infections have been associated with GBS, of which 'Campylobacter jejuni' a bacterial infection frequently causing diarrhoea is among the most common linked.

Terming the disease as 'debilitating' Dr Hubert Ph. Endtz, director, lab science division of ICDDR,B said hospital treatment is often needed for this disease. He said prevention is also the prime measure for prevention of this disease.

Dr Alejandro Cravioto, executive director, ICDDR, B stressed the need to develop new intervention to prevent or treat GBS in developing countries.

AMM Nasir Uddin, secretary, Ministry of Family Welfare was present as chief guest.

Md Zhahirul Islam, research officer, food and enteric microbiology, ICDDR, B Dr Wim Ang, Free University, Amsterdam, Dr Bart Jacobs, department of Neurology and Immune, Erasmus University, Rotterdam of Netherlands and Dr Nabuhiro Yuki, Niigita National Hospital, Japan presented keynotes on GBS.