Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy: Causes and Symptoms
Peripheral neuropathy involves nerve damage affecting motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Causes range from diabetes and vitamin deficiencies to infections and autoimmune disorders. Symptoms vary based on the nerves involved, including weakness, numbness, tingling, and autonomic dysfunction. Accurate diagnosis and addressing underlying causes are essential for management. This overview provides essential insights into causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of neuropathy.
Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy: Causes and Symptoms
Peripheral neuropathy refers to nerve damage or dysfunction in the peripheral nervous system. In most cases, an identifiable cause is present, but approximately 10-15% of cases are idiopathic, meaning no specific cause is found. These cases are managed symptomatically since the root cause remains unknown. Neuropathy typically affects three types of nerves: motor, sensory, and autonomic. Motor nerves control muscle movements, sensory nerves transmit sensations like pain and tingling, and autonomic nerves regulate involuntary functions such as heartbeat and digestion.
Diagnosis relies on medical history and clinical presentation, with investigations to identify the specific nerve involved and underlying causes. Common causes include:
- Idiopathic cases (~30%)
- Diabetes (most prevalent, affecting about 50% of diabetic patients)
Other causes include vitamin deficiencies, cancers like lymphomas, certain medications, chronic organ diseases, infections, injuries, substance abuse, inflammations, hereditary disorders, and autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
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