[Guillain-Barre syndrome in children. Report of 39 cases]. / Syndrome de Guillain-Barré chez l'enfant. Etude de 39 observations.

The authors report a retrospective study of 39 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in children. Including 23 boys and 16 girls. The mean age was 4 years (14 months to 10 years). A history of infection preceded the polyradiculoneuritis in 75% of cases. The mean duration of extensive phase and of the maximum paralysis was 10 days. A severe respiratory involvement was observed in 9 children and cranial nerve paralysis in 8 children. An early raised cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration was found in 95%. Electrodiagnostic studies, performed in 37 patients, showed nerve conduction velocity slowing in all cases. 28 children (73%) recovered clinically, 8 patients (20%) had residual deficits and 3 patients (7%) died.