A descriptive study of Guillain-Barré syndrome in high and low Campylobacter jejuni incidence regions of Michigan: 1992-1999.

The incidence rate of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) was compared between high and low Campylobacter jejuni incidence counties in Michigan, USA, between 1992 and 1999. Data on GBS was obtained from cases reported to the Michigan Department of Community Health. Poisson confidence intervals were used to compare incidence rates. There was no significant difference in the overall rate between high and low C. jejuni incidence regions in Michigan. Though no differences in age-specific, gender-specific, and seasonal rates were significant, GBS was more common in spring and summer in the high C. jejuni incidence region than in the low C. jejuni incidence region. Differences in the distribution of cases by age group and gender are described, though no difference was statistically significant.