As Maharashtra reports its first suspected death due to Guilliain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), after Pune reported 101 cases of infections and death, the region is on high alert for the neurological disorder. Most of the cases were reported from Kirkatwadi along Sinhagad Road and Nandedgaon. Patients are worried that the treatment for the condition is expensive, as a single immunoglobulin injection, which is needed to strengthen the immune system, costs about Rs 20,000. There are allegations that this is due to the overcharging of private hospitals, and an injection actually costs only about Rs 5000. Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar promised free treatment for the condition in select hospitals. 

According to reports, certain hospitals like the Kamla Nehru Hospital, YCM Hospital of Pimpri-Chinchwad and Sassoon Hospital provide free medical care for GBS. Under a scheme known as UBS, aka Urban Poor Scheme, patients can receive a monetary aid of up to 2 lakh from the Pune Municipal Corporation. 
GBS Symptoms
1) Weakness in the legs that spreads to the rest of the body
2) Trouble with bowel functions and bladder control
3) A tingling sensation in ankles, fingers, wrists and toes
4) Difficulty in chewing, swallowing and speaking
5) Cramps on the body, which get worse at night
6) Increasing heart rate
7) High or low blood pressure
8) Trouble walking or climbing stairs
According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms can appear within two weeks after the infection begins. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Why avoid certain foods
Doctors nationwide have been giving various health advice to stay safe from GBS. According to Dr Priyanka Sehrawat, MD Medicine from AIIMS, Delhi, the progression of symptoms in the Pune outbreak is so rapid that patients end up in ventilators within a few days. "Campylobacter jejuni, a bacterial infection that affects food and gets triggered from contaminated food and water, is one of the reasons behind the current outbreak. So, stop eating outside, have vegetables and fruits well before eating them, and eat more vitamin C-rich food. If you can't skip eating outside, avoid food items like rice, cheese and paneer that are kept for a longer period as they are prone to bacterial growth if not taken care of properly," the doctor says in a video posted on Instagram. 
More than 10K search volume has been reported for 'gbs symptoms' on Google Trends in the past 21 hours. 

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.