An 8-year-old child is hospitalized with infectious polyneuritis (Guillain-Barré syndrome [GBS]). When explaining this disease process to the parents, what should the nurse consider?
a. Paralysis is progressive with little hope for recovery.
b. Disease is inherited as an autosomal, sex-linked, recessive gene.
c. Disease results from an apparently toxic reaction to certain medications.
d. Muscle strength slowly returns, and most children recover.
ANS: D
Recovery usually begins within 2 to 3 weeks, and most patients regain full muscle strength. The paralysis is progressive with proximal muscle weakness occurring before distal weakness. The recovery of muscle strength occurs in the reverse order of onset of paralysis. Most individuals regain full muscle strength. Better outcomes are associated with younger ages. GBS is an immune-mediated disease often associated with a number of viral or bacterial infections or the administration of vaccines.
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