Signs and symptoms. The symptoms of Guillain Barre syndrome are tingling or muscle weakness in the feet and legs that move up into the abdomen, then the chest then spread out into the arms and into the hands. This weakness takes place over days or weeks. Children may experience pain in the back, and those who’ve just started to walk may regress. Sometimes these symptoms go away and are replaced by more serious symptoms such as weakness that makes it impossible to climb the stairs. People may also develop facial weakness, double vision, problems swallowing and speaking, incontinence and gastrointestinal problems. They may suffer severe pain in the back and the legs, muscle cramps, tingling, numbness or burning sensations. Their heartbeat may become irregular, and they may have high or low blood pressure accompanied by shortness of breath. Eventually, some patients are completely paralyzed and can remain that way for weeks or months.
