Disease of the month: Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome (pronounced Ghee-lan Bar-ray) is a rare but serious condition in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. It currently affects about 1,500 people every year in the UK and is slightly more common in men than women. It can affect people of any age, including children. Although rare, the condition has received recent publicity due to its possible link with the flu vaccination, which has been thought to trigger the syndrome. However, this has not been proven and from all accounts there is no cause for concern. Guillain-Barré syn...