Medical Emergencies · single question
A 70-year-old male presents with motor weakness after receiving a flu shot last week. No fever. What is the diagnosis?
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Correct answer: B. Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (B). Classic GBS post-flu shot presentation:
• Ascending motor weakness/paralysis (starts in legs, ascends)
• Onset 1-6 weeks after infection or vaccination (flu shot temporal relationship is classic)
• No fever (rules out infectious etiology)
• Areflexia (absent deep tendon reflexes)
• Can progress to respiratory paralysis (medical emergency)
• Pathophysiology: autoimmune demyelination of peripheral nerves. Antibodies cross-react with myelin.
• ALS (A): progressive motor neuron disease — upper + lower motor neuron signs, no association with vaccination, chronic onset.
• MS (C): demyelination of CNS (not PNS), episodic relapses, young adults.
• Dental significance: GBS patients may have difficulty opening (facial nerve involvement), dysphagia, compromised airway.
• Ascending motor weakness/paralysis (starts in legs, ascends)
• Onset 1-6 weeks after infection or vaccination (flu shot temporal relationship is classic)
• No fever (rules out infectious etiology)
• Areflexia (absent deep tendon reflexes)
• Can progress to respiratory paralysis (medical emergency)
• Pathophysiology: autoimmune demyelination of peripheral nerves. Antibodies cross-react with myelin.
• ALS (A): progressive motor neuron disease — upper + lower motor neuron signs, no association with vaccination, chronic onset.
• MS (C): demyelination of CNS (not PNS), episodic relapses, young adults.
• Dental significance: GBS patients may have difficulty opening (facial nerve involvement), dysphagia, compromised airway.
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