Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms can progress relatively quickly once they appear. They typically start in the feet and/or hands and spread upward to the legs, arms and trunk. At first they may include:
- Tingling or pins-and-needle sensations
- Numbness
- Tenderness
- Weakness, especially in the legs
- Muscle spasms
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of reflexes
More serious symptoms, some of which may require emergency medical assistance, include:
- Paralysis
- Difficulty breathing and/or swallowing
- Abnormal heart rate
In most cases, symptoms develop over hours to days and may continue to worsen for up to a month, after which they slowly resolve. Up to 30% of those affected may still have some lingering weakness after 3 years, and a small percentage may have a relapse years later.
