If someone suffers from some kind of a bad infection, could PN come on as a result from this even months later? Thanks...

Mine started overnight following a two week long bout with strep throat.....

I think so, especially with viruses.

Yes. We have seen many people develop PN following an infectious illness.

In fact, infection with Campylobacter from uncooked chicken is KNOWN to cause PN (GBS). There is also a fish infection.

This may be due to the infectious agent itself. Or that the body makes antibodies to the organism which mimic (are similar to) nerve tissue, and hence after the infection, these antibodies then attack the self, instead.

There are also cytokines released in response to infection, and these are inflammatory and may attack nerve endings as well.

There are some seafood toxins/bacterial poisoning that can involve nerves:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/disea...netoxins_g.htm

Thanks MrsD, very interesting article. It makes you wonder. I was curious to know if an infection strikes and does affect the nerves, does the PN always come on right away? Could the PN symptoms possibly start even months down the road?

It is hard to say. But autoimmune issues can be sneaky, and take time to show up. Hard to diagnose too.

I often wonder how many get PN from the yearly flu vaccines?
See the other thread about squalene containing vaccines stimulating the autoimmune response in some people.

I'd gotten pneumonia in early Dec, and was on anti-b-s till mid Feb w/an all-clear. Still had a heck of a 'cough' but fine? Then in March vision started all over the map. Two lens prescriptions in two months? In May went into the ER [after calling GP] w/a severe neuropathy. Turned out after many docs, tests and a lot of 'stress'? A year later to be an immune neuropathy.
Ultimately a February to May 'delay' in it all. But what a big, life changing impact! Because it all didn't happen right away, it's called 'sub-acute' and thus, harder to pin on any particular 'cause'. But, it clearly, to me at least, was the only 'change' in my life, diet and environment for a couple of years and for me at least? There is a direct cause/effect connection there between pneumonia and one heck of a big immune system reaction.
LOTS of things/issues can cause an immune reaction... LOTS of them! Just go thru this list of neuromuscular issues index and take a peek! It's a wonderland of what can happen.
http://neuromuscular.wustl.edu/alfindex.htm
Granted, that this is only my viewpoint? I've more or less eliminated hereditary aspects as I'm from a large family and also have lots of cousins.... NO ONE ELSE in my family seems to have gotten my luck of the draw. And truly? I hope no one else does!
Hope and hugs always! - j