Childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome subtypes in northern India

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care research centre in North India to describe the frequency and clinical characteristics of subtypes of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome. Among the 68 children enrolled, 65 were finally diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (median age, 60 months); 45 (69%) were boys. The most common subtype was acute motor axonal neuropathy in 27 patients (41.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 29-54), followed by acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in 15 (23%, 95% CI 13.5-35), and acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy in three (4.6%, 95% CI 1-13). Twelve patients (18.5%, 95% CI 10-30) had inexcitable nerves, and eight (12.4%, 95% CI 5.5-23) were unclassifiable. Those with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy were more likely to have had a preceding upper respiratory tract infection. The acute motor axonal neuropathy subtype peaked in incidence during the winter and monsoon months.