Guillain-Barré syndrome affects approximately one out of every 100,000individuals in any given year. Although rare, this condition can cause debilitating symptoms and worrying problems when it does strike. In some cases, a vaccination can set off a bout of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Once you understand some basic points about this mysterious medical challenge, the more effectively you can recognize its hallmark symptoms and pursue compensation for related financial losses. Take a look at the answers to these frequently asked questions on the subject.

What Is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

Doctors classify Guillain-Barré syndrome as a neurological disorder in which a malfunctioning immune system destroys the outer myelin sheaths of nerves. These protein-based sheaths serve as insulation for the nerves. Without their myelin sheaths, nerves have trouble sending signals to various parts of the body.

How Does Guillain-Barré Syndrome Affect the Body?

Guillain-Barré syndrome typically causes symptoms such as tingling, pain, and/or muscle weakness in the upper or lower extremities. Weakness may start in your legs and make it way upward. You may also experience difficulties controlling your face, eyes, bladder, or bowels.

The weakness and other neurological problems created by Guillain-Barré syndrome can eventually interfere with your mobility, manual dexterity, and your ability to perform your job. Most cases eventually resolve themselves, but full recovery can take years, even with the aid of extensive rehabilitation.

What Causes Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

Researchers still have no definitive answer for why some people develop Guillain-Barré syndrome. However, in some two-thirds of reported cases, sufferers had experienced some kind of infection the months preceding their symptoms.

You may have an elevated risk for Guillain-Barré syndrome if you have contracted a viral infection such as influenza, COVID-19, Zika, HIV, Epstein-Barr, or cytomegalovirus. A recent gastrointestinal infection, a bout of pneumonia, or a struggle with infectious hepatitis can also make you vulnerable to the disorder.

Why Might Vaccinations Trigger Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

Many vaccines use inactivated versions of certain germs, prompting the immune system to react to them as it would to the active disease. It would appear that, in individuals predisposed to Guillain-Barré syndrome, the immune system's reaction to the vaccine could also include nerve damage.

This connection caught the attention of the medical community during the infamous swine flu outbreak of 1976. Some patients who received a new vaccination created to fight this swine flu strain developed Guillain-Barré syndrome. Other kinds of flu shots might also contribute to a small number of cases each year.

How Do You Seek Compensation for Losses Related to Guillain-Barré Syndrome?

If you have lost your motor abilities due to Guillain-Barré syndrome, you might have to take an indefinite leave from your work, depriving your family of much-needed income. Medical bills, home health care, and physical rehabilitation treatments can make your financial burden that much worse.

If a vaccination appears to have played a role in your illness, you can seek financial compensation to help cover these losses. However, you cannot do so by suing the manufacturer of the vaccine. Instead, you would pursue your request through a no-fault alternative known as the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program .

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program guards vaccine manufacturers against lawsuits that might otherwise hurt their ability to remain in operation (thus depriving countless Americans of much-needed disease protection). The manufacturers pay into a fund specifically designed to fulfill valid compensation requests.

To request this kind of compensation, you must submit a petition to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The Department of Health and Human Services' medical experts will first review your evidence to determine its validity. The U.S. Department of Justice will then relay the report to a federal court for a final decision. 

A court-appointed individual called a special master will make the final decision regarding your compensation, including the amount you'll receive. However, even if the court dismisses your claim, it may still compensate you for your legal fees.

Bring your questions about vaccination-related Guillain-Barré syndrome to Vaccination Injury Lawyers. Our experienced team of vaccination lawyers can evaluate your case and guide you through the available paths to compensation. Contact our office today.