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## Mometrix ### Intellectual disability, quadriplegia, blindness, deafness, uncontrollable seizures, and hydrocephalus ### Guillain-Barré Syndrome Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder of the myelinated motor peripheral nervous system, often triggered by a viral gastroenteritis o...

## Mometrix ### Intellectual disability, quadriplegia, blindness, deafness, uncontrollable seizures, and hydrocephalus ### Guillain-Barré Syndrome Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder of the myelinated motor peripheral nervous system, often triggered by a viral gastroenteritis or _Campylobacter jejuni_ infection. Congenital and neonatal GBS can occur. Diagnosis is by clinical symptoms, nerve conduction studies, and lumbar puncture, which often show increased protein with normal glucose and cell count although protein may not increase for a week or more. Needle conduction studies typically shows slowing of conduction. Symptoms may not be evident at birth but can include hypotonia with leg and arm weakness on neonatal exam. Muscle stretch reflexes may be absent. Delayed symptoms include sudden onset of acute flaccid paralysis and respiratory distress. Treatment is supportive. Infants should be hospitalized for observation and placed on ventilator support if forced vital capacity is reduced. While there is no definitive treatment, plasma exchange or IV immunoglobulin shorten the duration of symptoms. ### Rubella Women should always be vaccinated for rubella before becoming pregnant, as exposure to the virus has devastating effects on the newborn. The mother may not experience any symptoms of the disease or only mild symptoms like mild respiratory problems or rash. If the rubella exposure is during the first 4 to 5 months of pregnancy, the consequences for the infant are greater. Infants exposed to this virus in utero can develop a set of symptoms known as congenital rubella syndrome. This syndrome includes all or some of the following signs and symptoms: - Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) - Deafness - Cataracts - Jaundice - Purpura - Hepatosplenomegaly - Microcephaly - Chronic encephalitis - Cardiac defects ### Neonatal Sepsis Neonatal sepsis is a particular risk for preterm infants < 1000 g and may be associated with a wide range of pathogens, both bacterial and viral. Early onset (≤ 72 hours) is usually related to maternal transmission and late onset (4 to 90 days) to invasive devices. Early onset sepsis most often is characterized by pneumonia and late onset by bacteremia and/or meningitis. Symptoms vary according to pathogen, onset, and primary site of infection. - Nonspecific signs of respiratory distress, CNS irritation, and metabolic disorders. - Pneumonia: Tachypnea, sternal retraction, grunting respirations, cyanosis, and apneic periods. - Meningitis: Stupor, irritability, indications of increasing ICP, bulging anterior fontanel (but signs may be subtle in the neonate). - Decreased cardiac output with pulmonary hypertension, signs of shock. - Hypo- or hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis. - Jaundice.