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By Mayo Clinic staffComplications of Guillan-Barre syndrome can include:
- Breathing difficulties. A potentially deadly complication of Guillain-Barre syndrome is that the weakness or paralysis can spread to the muscles that control your breathing. You may need temporary help from a machine to breathe when you're hospitalized for treatment.
- Residual numbness or other sensations. Most people with Guillain-Barre syndrome recover completely or have only minor, residual weakness or abnormal sensations, such as numbness or tingling. However, full recovery may be slow, often taking a year or longer.
Fewer than 1 in 10 people with Guillain-Barre syndrome experience long-term complications, such as:
- Serious, permanent problems with sensation and coordination, including some cases of severe disability
- A relapse of Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Rarely, death, from complications such as respiratory distress syndrome and heart attack
Severe, early symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome significantly increase the risk of serious long-term complications.
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