To study the association of Zika virus and other viruses with Guillain Barre syndrome during the Zika virus epidemic in our Tertiary care hospital.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a peripheral polyneuropathy characterized by acute onset of bilateral, symmetric limb weakness with decreased or absent deep-tendon reflexes. Aberrant immune response after an infection may cause GBS. The most common known inciting infection is Campylobacter jejuni, though sporadic cases with many viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections are reported.

An observational study was conducted among the GBS patients admitted in our Tertiary care hospital. All patients were assessed by detailed history, physical examination, nerve conduction studies and relevant investigations. Investigations were also done to identify the viruses which include Zika Virus PCR, Cytomegalovirus IgM, Ebstein-Barr Virus IgM, Herpes simplex Virus IgM and Varicella Zoster Virus IgM in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Data was analyzed using standard statistical methods.

Among the 40 patients, 17 patients (42%) had AMAN, 12 patients (30%) had AMSAN and 11 patients(27%) had AIDP. Zika virus PCR was found to be negative in serum and CSF of all patients. It was found that Serum/CSF of 5 patients (12.5%) were IgM positive for Japanese encephalitis virus antibodies, 3 patients (7.5%) were IgM positive for Varicella Zoster antibodies, 2 patients (5%) had Cytomegalovirus IgM antibodies and 1 patient (2.5%) had IgM Ebstein-Barr Virus antibodies. JE and VZV were found to be associated more with AMSAN variant while AMAN variant was detected more with CMV.