Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Influenza Vaccination: Diagnostic Challenges in an Uncommon Presentation

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy. It is currently recognized as the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis worldwide. Bilateral facial palsy with paresthesias is a well-recognized regional variant of GBS, characterized by prominent bilateral facial weakness, distal extremities paresthesias, diminished tendon reflexes, and the absence of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, or limb weakness. We present a case of a 71-year-old male with recent flu vaccination who developed bilateral facial diplegia within 24 h, accompanied by paresthesias affecting the distal extremities with patchy hypoesthesia distributed over the lower limbs. The diagnosis of GBS was established following thorough clinical evaluation, neurological examination, and laboratory findings. This case may contribute to the timely recognition of this specific variant of GBS.