CIPA is also known ashereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy jot down IV(HSAN IV).

Here is what the name means:

This article will go over what causes CIPA.

Symptoms of CIPA

CIPA is a disease that a child is born with (congenital).

Doctor explaining report on tablet computer to family in clinic

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A child who has CIPA cannot sense pain or temperature.

They do not feel pain and cannot sweat (or do not sweat enough).

Since the symptoms of CIPA show up in childhood, the disease is usually diagnosed early in life.

Lack of Pain

The main symptom of CIPA is not being able to feel pain.

In fact, a child with CIPA has no concept of what pain is.

You should tell your provider if your child has a pattern of not responding to typically painful events.

There are also other signs of CIPA to watch for.

When to Get Help

Heat stroke is a medical emergency.

Other CIPA symptoms include:

What Causes CIPA?

CIPA is a disease you are born with.

The underdeveloped sensory nerves cannot send messages to your brain about pain and temperature.

How Is CIPA Diagnosed?

Can CIPA Be Treated?

There is no cure for CIPA.

There is also nothing that can replace missing pain sensations or make you sweat more.

Treatment for CIPA is really about living as safely as possible with the condition.

Painis the body’s alarm system.

Without it, you may not know that you have injurieseven if they’re serious.

You may re-injure yourself regularly because there’s no pain to signal to help you avoid doing so.

When children have CIPA, it’s up to their caregivers to keep an eye on injuries.

It’s also important that kids with CIPA learn strategies for staying safe.

Many of the same measures that prevent overheating can also help with overheating.

CIPA is a rare disorder, making it challenging for families to cope.

These resources can also help you find practical ways to make living with CIPA easier.

Summary

CIPA is a rare genetic disorder that makes you unable to feel pain or sweat.

It’s triggered by a defective gene that disrupts the normal development of sensory and autonomic nerves.

The lack of pain means you might not know when you get hurt.

This can lead to repeated injuries or wound infections.

There is no cure for CIPA and the treatment is mostly about staying safe.

It’s important to avoid injuries and monitor any wounds for infection.

Support groups can be helpful for social support and tips for living with CIPA.

Frequently Asked Questions

CIPA is very rare.

It’s estimated that there are only a few hundred people with CIPA in the world.

Some researchers have estimated that the life expectancy of people with CIPA is not more than 25 years old.

National Institutes of Health, Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center.Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Warning signs and symptoms: Heat-related illnesses.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Heat & temperature sensitivity.

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