Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2025
A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments
Published on: November 9, 2017
Epidemiology of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Iranian Children Aged 0-15 Years (2008-2013)
Seyed Hassan Tonekaboni1, Sussan Mahmoudi2, Fatemeh Abdollah Gorji3
1Pediatrics Neurology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) affects Iranian children, with the highest incidence in those aged 0-5 years. This study highlights the need for health system attention due to GBS treatment costs and potential mortality.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a leading cause of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) globally.
- GBS presents as rapid, progressive, symmetric weakness, an acute inflammatory polyneuropathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Iranian children.
- To understand the incidence and patterns of GBS in a pediatric population in Iran.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from Iran's national Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system (2008-2013).
- Included demographic data from children aged 0-15 years.
- Employed Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified 1884 GBS cases over the study period.
- Reported an average annual incidence rate of 1.72 per 100,000 individuals.
- Observed the highest incidence rates in children aged 0-5 years, with no significant seasonal variation.
Conclusions:
- Approximately 300 new GBS cases annually necessitate focused health system attention.
- The significant morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs associated with GBS underscore its public health importance.
- Further research into GBS epidemiology in children is warranted.
Objective:
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory polyneuropathy characterized by a rapid progressive symmetric weakness. The GBS is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in most parts of the world. This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiological features of GBS in Iranian children.
Materials & Methods:
The data were extracted using the AFP surveillance system that is a national screening program to detect all cases of AFP aged 0-15 years around the country. National Population Statistics data and AFP demographic data during 2008-2013 intervals were obtained from the relevant authorities in the Ministry of Health in Iran. The GBS cases were then extracted from the aforementioned database. The Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis.
Results:
A total of 1884 cases of GBS were identified in the study period, and the average annual incidence rate was 1.72 per 100,000 individuals. The highest incidence rate was within the range of 0-5 years. There was no statistically significant relationship between the incidence of GBS and the season in the whole country.
Conclusion:
High costs of GBS treatment, morbidity and occasional mortality, and number of new cases, which is estimated to be approximately 300 individuals per year, need the particular attention of the health system.
More Related Videos
09:37Detection of Polyfunctional T Cells in Children Vaccinated with Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine via the Flow Cytometry Technique
Published on: September 23, 2022
06:22Standardization of Transfer across Labs between Flow Cytometers for Detection of Lymphocytes in Japanese Encephalitis Vaccinated Children
Published on: February 10, 2023