Factors affecting the outcome of Guillain-Barre syndrome among pediatric patients in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital

Background: Guillain-BarrA© syndrome is an acute immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy characterized by progressive weakness and areflexia with a highly variable clinical presentation, course, and outcome. The factors that determine the clinical variation and outcome of GBS are poorly understood and not studied in our setup which complicates the care and treatment.   Objectives:   Assessed the factors affecting the outcomes of Guillain-BarrA© syndrome (GBS) among children <15 years in Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital.   Methods: Institution based analytical cross-sectional study was done among 91 patients with GBS on follow-up identified by chart tracing and reviewed at Tikur Anbesa specialized hospital from October 1/2012 to January 30/2019. Required data were collected using a checklist. The data were entered into a computer using Ep-info and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 23 for analysis.   Results: There were 91 patients with a male to female ratio of 1.1:1 and 80 % of them are between 2-10 years of age.   Cranial nerve involvement was found in 24/91(26.4 %) and 36/91(39.6%) had dysautonomia. The commonest sub-type was AMAN, 67/91 (73%). Functional independence was achieved by 47/91(52%) at 3 months and 80/91(88%) at 6 months. Poor functional outcome of GBS was significantly associated with the presence of sensory symptoms, dysautonomia, and the need for mechanical ventilation, P < 0.05.   Conclusion:  The severity of motor weakness at nadir is associated with a lower likely hood of functional independence and patients with longer hospital stays require a longer time for functional independence.