Association of Campylobacter jejuni infection with childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome: a case-control study

J Child Neurol. 2009 Jun;24(6):664-8. doi: 10.1177/0883073808325649.

Abstract

A prospective case-control study was conducted to determine the association between Campylobacter jejuni infection and childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome in the Indian population. We found evidence of recent Campylobacter jejuni infection in 27.7% of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, as compared with 2.3% in neurological controls (P = .003) and 2.3% in nonneurological controls (P = .003). Of the 15 patients with Campylobacter jejuni infection, 8 (53.3%) reported having had diarrhea within 12 weeks before the onset of the neurologic illness. Our results suggest association between recent Campylobacter jejuni infection and bulbar weakness (P = .043). No statistical difference was observed between the Campylobacter jejuni positive and negative groups with respect to age, other clinical features, albuminocytological dissociation, and residual paralysis at follow-up. It is concluded that subclinical Campylobacter jejuni infection is an important antecedent illness in childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome in the Indian population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Campylobacter Infections / complications*
  • Campylobacter Infections / epidemiology
  • Campylobacter jejuni* / isolation & purification
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diarrhea / complications
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / complications*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Paralysis / complications
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors