Five-year-old recovers from rare GBS after 90-day treatment in Udaipur

Udaipur: A five-year-old girl from Rajsamand district has made a full recovery from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare and potentially life-threatening neurological disorder, after nearly 90 days of intensive treatment at the children’s hospital of Maharana Bhupal Hospital, affiliated with Ravindranath Tagore Medical College (RNTMC), Udaipur.

The child was admitted with severe weakness in both legs and was later diagnosed with GBS, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves, leading to muscle weakness and, in severe cases, breathing difficulties. As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and placed on prolonged ventilator support.

Dr Rahul Jain, Principal and Controller of RNT Medical College, said the successful recovery demonstrated the capabilities of the hospital’s advanced critical care facilities and the dedication of its medical staff. The patient was discharged on May 31.

Doctors said the severity of the illness required a tracheostomy, which was performed by the ENT department to facilitate long-term respiratory support. The child underwent intensive treatment and regular physiotherapy for nearly 80 days in the PICU. She was also provided protein-rich nutrition, including eggs and milk, free of cost to aid muscle recovery.

Dr Vivek Arora, Head of the Pediatrics Department, said timely diagnosis, availability of immunoglobulin therapy and sustained critical care played a crucial role in saving the child. He added that maintaining prolonged ventilator support while preventing complications was a major challenge.

During treatment, the child received five doses of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a critical therapy for GBS. Each vial cost around Rs 40,000, taking the total cost of the medicine to nearly Rs 2 lakh. The entire treatment expenditure of Rs 5.31 lakh was covered under the Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya (MAA) Yojana.

Unit Head Dr Mohammad Asif said the child was admitted on February 4 with complete loss of strength in both legs and worsening respiratory function. Following prompt treatment, round-the-clock monitoring, physiotherapy and nutritional support, she recovered fully and has now been discharged.