Childhood Guillain–Barré syndrome subtypes in northern India

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care research centre in North India to describe the frequency and clinical characteristics of subtypes of childhood Guillain–Barré syndrome. Among the 68 children enrolled, 65 were finally diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome (median age, 60 months); 45 (69%) were boys. The most common subtype was acute motor axonal neuropathy in 27 patients (41.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 29–54), followed by acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in 15 (23%, 95% CI 13.5–35), and acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy in three (4.6%, 95% CI 1–13). Twelve patients (18.5%, 95% CI 10–30) had inexcitable nerves, and eight (12.4%, 95% CI 5.5–23) were unclassifiable. Those with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy were more likely to have had a preceding upper respiratory tract infection. The acute motor axonal neuropathy subtype peaked in incidence during the winter and monsoon months.