Eating barbecue and being sent to the ICU! What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Review expert: Wang Xuejiang, professor of pathophysiology and doctoral supervisor at Capital Medical University

Recently, a student in Guangzhou developed fever and diarrhea symptoms after eating barbecue. A week later, he began to feel weakness in his limbs and his swallowing function was significantly reduced. He was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and was urgently admitted to the ICU for treatment. The student also underwent five plasma exchanges.

Image source: Weibo screenshot

What is Guillain-Barré syndrome? Eating barbecue actually landed me in the ICU? Are there any dangers of eating barbecue?

0 1Guillain-Barre syndrome: a rare immune system disease

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare immune system disorder that usually occurs after an infection, such as an enterovirus or respiratory infection . The syndrome causes the immune system to mistakenly attack part of the peripheral nervous system.

Guillain-Barré syndrome occurs worldwide, with about 1 to 2 cases per 100,000 people each year. This disease can occur at any age and in any season, but starting at the age of 10, the incidence rate increases by about 20% with every 10 years of age.

Image source: Guangzhou Daily

The typical symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome are weakness in the hands and feet that spreads to the trunk . When the medullary innervated muscles are affected, it is difficult to swallow food or water . In severe cases, the respiratory muscles are affected, resulting in difficulty breathing . Some patients also have sensory impairment, reduced pain and touch sensation in the hands and feet , and glove-stocking-like paresthesias , as if they were wearing gloves or socks.

Image source: WeChat official account of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University

0 2 History of pre-existing infection in Guillain-Barré syndrome

The exact cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome has not yet been determined. Its pathogenesis is that the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, causing nerve conduction damage . Most cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome have a history of pre-infection (gastrointestinal or respiratory tract infection), and this student in Guangzhou ate unclean food , which caused diarrhea and stimulated an immune response.

Eating barbecue has always been a favorite activity for people, but many people suffer from diarrhea, gastrointestinal discomfort, etc. when eating barbecue. This is mainly because during the barbecue process, if the food is not handled properly or the barbecue equipment is not cleaned thoroughly, it may lead to contamination by bacteria or pathogens. For example, bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella may exist in uncooked meat or contaminated vegetables.

Salmonella source: Guhe Health

Escherichia coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of humans and animals. It can be pathogenic or non-pathogenic. In most cases, Escherichia coli is good and essential to the human body. It can coexist peacefully with the body and produce some beneficial effects. However, a few Escherichia coli are pathogenic to humans and can cause infectious diarrhea, especially Escherichia coli O157:H7. The toxins produced by these strains can damage intestinal wall cells, causing severe diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Image source: Guokr Nature

In addition, grilled food often contains high levels of fat and protein , which may produce some substances that are irritating to the stomach and intestines during high-temperature cooking. Various seasonings and additives used in grilling, such as cumin, chili powder, and monosodium glutamate, may irritate the stomach and intestines of some people. Barbecuing is often accompanied by drinking beer or other alcoholic beverages, which may irritate the stomach and intestines and increase the risk of diarrhea.

0 3 In addition to diarrhea, barbecue has other adverse effects

In addition to causing diarrhea and gastrointestinal discomfort, improper and unhygienic barbecue can also have other adverse effects. When barbecued meat products are smoked and baked, fat is cracked due to high temperature, producing a large number of free radicals that generate benzopyrene through thermal polymerization. Benzopyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that is carcinogenic and teratogenic, and is classified as a Class I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Benzopyrene Source: Medical Encyclopedia

It is worth noting that drinking beer while eating barbecue can not only easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort, but alcohol will also decompose these carcinogens, allowing the body to absorb more of these carcinogens.

In addition, barbecue smoke also contains many carcinogens, such as nitrogen oxides, dioxins , etc. During high-temperature barbecue, the fat in the meat will oxidize to produce free radicals , which may have adverse effects on human health.

But if we really want to eat barbecue, what should we do?

1. Make sure food is cooked thoroughly.

2. Avoid over-grilling to reduce oil oxidation and the production of carcinogens.

3. Choose fresh ingredients and avoid using spoiled meat.

4. Clean grilling equipment and tools regularly to prevent bacterial contamination.

5. Try to reduce smoke when grilling, use smokeless grilling equipment or choose a suitable grilling location.

When eating barbecue, pay attention to the combination of meat and vegetables. You can eat some fruit while eating barbecue to inhibit the adverse effects of benzopyrene.

References
[1] Public Health and Preventive Medicine Do you know the ten major dangers of eating barbecue?

[2] China News Network: After a barbecue, the college student went to the ICU and had his blood transfused 5 times. The doctor gave an urgent warning.

[3] Department of Pediatric Neurology, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?

[4] Popular Science: 209 students in a middle school in China had fever and diarrhea, and 199 were hospitalized! Don’t ignore this situation