What is Bickerstaff’s Brainstem Encephalitis, a rare disorder reported in Pune, alongside rising Guillain-Barré syndrome cases?

What is BBE and its symptoms?

BBE is an acute onset, rapidly progressive, post-infectious demyelinating neurological illness, said Dr Sudhir Kumar, advisor neurologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

“Common symptoms see imbalance portion walking (ataxia), ophthalmoplegia (double imaginativeness and different ocular disturbances), drowsiness, and weakness of limbs,” said Dr Kumar.

Symptoms hap acutely and get worse implicit a fewer days, helium added.

“Most patients study mild respiratory infections (such arsenic flu) oregon a diarrheal unwellness 1-2 weeks earlier the onset of neurological symptoms. Although the nonstop pathogenesis remains unclear, it is presumably related to an immune absorption triggered by a erstwhile corruption from pathogens similar Campylobacter jejuni, Mycoplasma pneumonia, oregon Haemophilus influenza,” said Dr Kumar.

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Similarity and quality betwixt BBE and GBS

BBE has a fewer similarities to Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). “Both the conditions are post-infectious immune-mediated acute neurological illnesses. The main quality is that GBS predominantly affects the peripheral tense system, whereas BBE predominantly affects the cardinal tense system,” said Dr Kumar.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of BBE tin beryllium confirmed by doing an MRI of the brain, which shows the engagement of the brainstem. “Lumbar puncture is done to regularisation retired progressive infection. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) investigation is besides akin to GBS – mean oregon mildly elevated compartment counts, elevated protein, and mean sugar,” said Dr Kumar.

Serum antiganglioside antibodies (anti-GQ1b) are recovered successful two-thirds of patients. However, the lack of these antibodies does not regularisation retired the diagnosis, helium stressed.

Treatment

Treatment of BBE is akin to GBS. Both intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) injections and plasma speech are effective.

Timely diagnosis and absorption are the request of the hr to regain question and coordination, said Dr Pankaj Agarwal, caput of the section of neurology, Gleneagles Hospital Parel Mumbai.

“One should not panic arsenic BBE has a bully prognosis and is manageable with immunotherapy, plasma exchange, respiratory enactment if breathing is compromised, carnal therapy, and medicine for grounds management,” said Dr Agarwal.

Dr Agarwal noted that those with BBE request “the semipermanent follow-up to debar immoderate relapses”.

Precautions

Precautions to forestall BBE are akin to those of GBS. Use a look disguise outdoors, particularly successful nationalist oregon crowded places, instrumentality the yearly flu vaccine, and devour hygienic nutrient and water.

Stay vigilant and question aesculapian proposal for neurological symptoms specified arsenic rapidly progressive limb oregon manus weakness and new-onset tingling oregon numbness successful limbs, said Dr Agarwal.