Physical pain can be an unbearable and dreadful feeling, but what if you couldn’t feel pain at all? Congenital insensitivity to pain and Anhidrosis is an extremely rare health condition present from birth where the person afflicted is unaware of and unable to sense physical pain. From the surface, this may seem pleasant or even advantageous, however, this syndrome is more of a burden than an asset. In fact, persons suffering from congenital insensitivity to pain typically don’t live over the age of 25.
Pain is a homeostatic component that protects the human body from both minor and fatal harm. While CIPA syndrome patients can distinguish between hot and cold temperatures, or sharp and blunt objects, they are not aware of extreme pain or temperatures which can lead to severe health problems that ultimately go unnoticed. They also experience the inability to sweat (anhidrosis) which can become an issue when trying to regulate body temperature. The SCN9A gene is responsible for creating the alpha subunit of sodium channels which aid in the transmission of pain and temperature signals to the spinal cord and therefore the brain. The genetic mutation of the SCN9A gene prohibits the full development of these small nerve fibers which leads to the inability of the brain to recognize when the body is experiencing extreme temperatures or pain.
Congenital insensitivity to pain and anhidrosis is an extremely dangerous syndrome as patients may not recognize injuries or other health conditions until they become life-threatening. For example, one patient with appendicitis only received treatment after their appendix burst. Another common factor of the syndrome - present in most known cases of CIPA - is self-mutilation. Teething toddlers who present with CIPA have caused severe oral damage by chewing through their tongue or lips as well as damage to other parts of the body such as the hands. In multiple cases, broken bones have led to amputations, and in one case an irritated eye led to a large scratch across a patient’s cornea which was only recognized once the eye was swollen and bloodshot rather than from an earlier emotional response to the physical pain.
There are limited treatment options for CIPA patients including routinely visiting a doctor for a full workup to check for possible unknown and potentially fatal internal injuries or other health conditions. For example, appendicitis, internal bleeding, injury to a vital organ, or even a heart attack can cause fatal problems in the future but can go unnoticed by someone insensitive to pain. Regulating body temperature and checking for external injuries are also preventative measures a person suffering from CIPA may take, however, there is no known cure for CIPA syndrome.
People often wish they were unable to feel pain, but after taking a deeper look into what would happen if physical pain were removed from one’s life, the absence of pain being detrimental to one’s health may outway the enjoyability of merely positive physical sensation. Although unfavorable, CIPA syndrome proves that pain is important, protecting humans from external factors as well as themselves.
Works cited
“Congenital Insensitivity to Pain: MedlinePlus Genetics.” N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2022. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/congenital-insensitivity-to-pain/#frequency
Daneshjou, Khadije, Hanieh Jafarieh, and Seyed-Reza Raaeskarami. “Congenital Insensitivity to Pain and Anhydrosis (CIPA) Syndrome; A Report of 4 Cases.” Iranian journal of pediatrics 22.3 (2012): 412–6. Print.
“Rare Disease Makes Girl Unable to Feel Pain.” NBC News 1 Nov. 2004. Web. 29 Jan. 2022. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/rare-disease-makes-girl-unable-feel-pain-flna1c94 40211
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