Covid increases risk of developing 'extremely rare' Guillain-Barre syndrome

Covid infection could increase the risk of developing the Guillain-Barre syndrome in the six weeks after being infected with coronavirus, scientists have found, even as they say the disorder is extremely rare and affects up to 20 persons in every one million people per year.

However, this increased risk could be mitigated by administering mRNA vaccines such as the Pfizer-BioNTech, scientists at medical institutes in Israel have found.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare autoimmune condition in which a person’s immune system attacks their peripheral nerves.

The initial symptoms of the syndrome include weakness or tingling sensations, which usually start in the legs and can spread to arms and face, the WHO said in a fact-sheet issued in April.

Severe cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome are rare but can result in near-total paralysis, and breathing issues linked to it can be potentially life-threatening. Most people recover fully from even the most severe cases, according to the WHO.