Diseases and Conditions
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping and support
Preparing for an appointment
Risk factors
Guillain-Barre syndrome can affect all age groups. But your risk increases as you age. It's also more common in males than females.
Guillain-Barre syndrome may be triggered by:
- Most commonly, infection with campylobacter, a type of bacteria often found in undercooked poultry
- Influenza virus
- Cytomegalovirus
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Zika virus
- Hepatitis A, B, C and E
- HIV, the virus that causes AIDS
- Mycoplasma pneumonia
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Rarely, influenza vaccinations or childhood vaccinations
- COVID-19 virus
- COVID-19 Johnson & Johnson vaccine