Tuesday, March 17, 2009

CIPA


Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIPA) is one or more rare conditions where a person cannot feel (and has never felt) physical pain, though their experience of other sensations is normal.


This condition is extremely rare, only affecting 1 in 125,000,000 births. It is more prevalent in homogenous populations, where interbreeding is thought to trigger the defect.


There are times when the condition is caused by increased production of endorphins in the brain, in which case naloxone may be used as treatment. However, this treatment is not always effective.


The major danger to people with CIPA is self-injury. Since they don't feel mouth pain, they sometimes bite off their own tounges or wound their teeth and gums. In addition, they don't automatically reposition themselves when sitting or sleeping which can cause stress injury.
Lethality Rating: 2
Disturbing Rating: 3

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