Dengue fever: should we fear an increase in Guillain-Barré syndromes in France?

in collaboration with

Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director)

A state of health emergency is declared in Peru: a sharp increase in the number of cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome has been recorded since the beginning of the year, a few months after a dengue fever epidemic that affected the country due to ‘a cyclone. However in France, if it is not comparable, the number of cases of imported and indigenous dengue fever continues to grow according to the latest Public Health figures. Should we fear Guillain Barré syndrome in France? The answers of Dr. Gérald Kierzek emergency physician and medical director of Docissimo. .

Is Guillain-Barré syndrome an infection?

Guillain-Barré syndrome is not an infection, but a post-infectious reaction that gradually creates an ascending motor paralysis, starting in the lower limbs to go up in the body, then back down. “The risk is to have respiratory paralysis which requires resuscitation. The syndrome can be fatal, but remains reversible. There is a treatment of intravenous immunoglobulins, but not always effective, as long as one does not really know what causes the syndrome. It is one of our fears in emergencies, because it starts with very mild symptoms but can progress quickly. ”

Is Guillain-Barré syndrome linked to the covid vaccine?

It is a rumor that one can read, but which does not hold. “The syndrome is likely caused by an interaction between the immune system and a trigger, the most likely being a viral infection. Zika is particularly a risk factor.” rcall the doctor. So certainly, according to the WHO, the syndrome can be caused by an infection – bacterial or viral – or more rarely by vaccination, but the recent events in Peru are new proof of the link between viral infection and onset.

Should we fear an increase in cases in France?

Peru seems far away, however, the recent increase in indigenous cases of Zika or dengue fever in France allows us to make a connection. Should we fear the syndrome in Europe and in France? “It’s a possibility, confirms Dr. Kierzek. If viral diseases such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya increase, if indigenous cases linked to global warming appear, this will probably make these diseases endemic. Who says virus present on our soil, says complications of these viral diseases, and one of these complications is therefore Guillain-Barré.