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Document 8
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Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosis in children 
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Please note: 
The research and literature reviews collated by our TAB Research Team are not to be shared 
external to the Branch. These are for internal TAB use only and are intended to assist our 
advisors with their reasonable and necessary decision-making. Delegates have access to a 
wide variety of comprehensive guidance material. If Delegates require further information on 
access or planning matters, they are to call the TAPS line for advice. The Research Team are 
unable to ensure that the information listed below provides an accurate & up-to-date snapshot 
of these matters 
Research questions: 
What are the clinical outcomes expected for children diagnosed with Guil ain-Barre syndrome? 
How does the Guil ain-Barre disability score compare to the Hughes scale? 
Date: 12/5/2022 
Requestor: s47F - personal privacy  
Endorsed by (EL1 or above): 
Researcher: Stephanie Ps47F - personal   
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Cleared by: Stephanie Ps47F - personal   
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1. Contents
Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosis in children ........................................................................... 1 
1.
Contents ....................................................................................................................... 1 
2.
Summary ...................................................................................................................... 2 
3.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome in children ............................................................................. 2 
4.
Guillain-Barre Disability Score ...................................................................................... 3 
5.
Hughes Functional Grading Scale ................................................................................ 4 
6.
References ................................................................................................................... 5 
7.
Version control .............................................................................................................. 5 
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FOI 24/25-0223 
[Research paper] 
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2. Summary
This research is a supplement to RES212 Guil ain Barre Syndrome (completed 5/8/2021). 
Guillain-Barre syndrome is more common in adults than children. While research in children is 
limited, information sourced suggests that children are likely to have a better clinical outcome 
after a diagnosis of Guil ain-Barre syndrome than adults. Two subtypes of Guil ain-Barre 
syndrome have been discussed in the literature – AMAN and AIDP (defined below). There is 
some evidence to suggest that diagnosis of subtype AMAN may lead to greater physical 
impairment at 6- and 12-months post diagnosis, however similar clinical outcomes are 
reported at 2 years post diagnosis. 
The Guil ain-Barre Disability Score appears to be a method used by Hughes to grade 
symptoms prior to the development of the Hughes Functional Grading Scale. These are 
discussed below. 
3. Guillain-Barre Syndrome in children
Literature regarding the prognosis for Guil ain-Barre syndrome for Australian children could not 
be sourced. However, there are international studies exploring the clinical prognosis of 
children who are diagnosed with Guil ain-Barre syndrome. 
Guillain-Barre syndrome predominantly affects adults, however diagnosis in the paediatric 
population is more common in children under 10 years old (Nasiri et al, 2018). More 
specifical y, diagnosis most often involves children aged between 1 and 5 years and males are 
affected more than females (Nasiri et al, 2018). Research suggests that children have a more 
favourable clinical course and outcome compared to adults diagnosed with Guil ain-Barre 
syndrome (Argarwal et al, 2022; Nasiri et al, 2018). Argarwal et al (2022) found that age of 
presentation and gender did not influence the clinical outcome. 
Common paediatric presentations have been identified as distal limb weakness, reduced 
tendon reflex, pain and paraethesia (Lee et al, 2008; Nasiri et al, 2018). Dysarthria, facial 
palsy, ophthalmoplegia and urinary problems have also been observed (Lee et al, 2008). 
Two main subtypes have been described in the literature depending on the location of neural 
inflammation: AMAN (acute motor axonal neuropathy) and AIDP (acute inflammatory 
demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy). The literature indicates that children diagnosed with 
AMAN may have greater clinical symptoms evident as a worse Hughes score at nadir 
compared to children diagnosed with AIDP subtype (Argarwal et al, 2022). Additional y, 
children diagnosed with AMAN may have a slower recovery phase with poorer outcomes at 6- 
and 12-months post-onset (Lee et al, 2008). However, Lee et al (2008) also cited research 
from Japan where 35% of the cohort were diagnosed with AIDP and 48% with AMAN and both 
groups had comparable favourable recoveries at 12 months post-onset. 
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Overall, the literature suggests that children diagnosed with Guil ain-Barre syndrome have 
good functional status regardless of whether axons or myelin sheaths are affected (Argarwal et 
al, 2022; Lee et al, 2008). Retrospective research by Nasiri et al (2018) compared international 
research data of paediatric outcomes with their study population of Iranian children, 
unfortunately they did not indicate the time period that had elapsed from onset to when the 
clinical was outcome measured. In their study, 92% of children recovered fully and there was a 
1.8% mortality rate – this was identified as being similar to research data from France, Tabriz 
and India (Nasiri et al, 2018). Further, 5% reported incomplete recovery which was similar to 
research data Nasiri et al (2018) obtained from India. 
Information on the Better Health Channel website (2014) is not specific to children, but it 
indicates that full recovery from Guil ain-Barre syndrome can be ‘two years or more’. Better 
Health Channel advises that physical therapy is important to facilitate recovery and prevent 
muscle contractures and associated deformities.   
4.  Guillain-Barre Disability Score 
A 2014 study by Fokke et al suggests the Guil ain-Barre syndrome disability score, as 
described in research by Hughes et al (1978), is a widely accepted scale of disability for 
individuals with Guillain-Barre syndrome. The research by Hughes et al (1978) uses the score 
for neurological assessment of enduring symptoms of Guil ain-Barre syndrome 1 year after 
diagnosis. The ‘Guil ain-Barre Disability Score’ is a 6-point rating scale as follows (Hughes et 
al, 1978): 
0 = healthy 
1 = minor signs or symptoms of neuropathy but capable of manual work 
2 = able to walk without support of a stick but incapable of manual work 
3 = able to walk with a stick, appliance, or support 
4 = confined to bed or chairbound 
5 = requiring assisted ventilation 
6 = dead 
A reference to the Guil ain-Barre Disability Scale was found in van Koningsveld et al (2007) 
who aimed to develop a clinical scoring system for clinical prognosis and used the Guil ain-
Barre Disability score in their modelling. These researchers defined a ‘poor outcome’ as a 
score of 3 or more at 6 months which corresponded to the inability to walk 10m independently. 
A ‘fairly good outcome’ was considered a score of 2 or less at 6 months. Data was taken at 6 
months as this was considered the time period where most of the recovery process would 
have occurred (van Koningsveld et al, 2007). 
Validity and reliability data for the Guil ain-Barre Disability Score could not be sourced. 
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5. Hughes Functional Grading Scale 
The Hughes Functional Grading Scale provides a measure of disability and is used to rate 
clinical performance (Shi et al, 2019). The scale is a 6-point rating scale and appears to be 
based on the Guil ain-Barre Disability Score but has more specific criteria for ratings 2 and 3: 
0 = normal 
1 = slight clinical symptoms 
2 = able to walk 5m or more without assistance but unable to run 
3 = able to walk 5m with help 
4 = bedridden or chairbound 
5 = ventilator-assisted breathing 
6 = death 
 
 
 
 
 
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