Definition and Causes of Paresthesia
- Paresthesia is a burning or prickling sensation felt in various parts of the body.
- It can be caused by sustained pressure on a nerve, such as sitting with legs crossed for too long.
- Chronic paresthesia can be a symptom of an underlying neurological disease or nerve damage.
- Disorders affecting the central nervous system, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis, can cause paresthesia.
- Nerve entrapment syndromes, like carpal tunnel syndrome, can also lead to paresthesia.
Symptoms and Diagnostic Evaluation of Paresthesia
- Paresthesia is usually painless and described as tingling, numbness, or itching.
- It can occur in the hands, arms, legs, feet, or other parts of the body.
- Diagnostic evaluation involves medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests.
- Additional tests may be ordered to determine the underlying cause of paresthesia.
- Conditions like stroke, transient ischemic attacks, and tumors can cause paresthesia.
Pharmacovigilance and Paresthesia
- Some vaccines, like the flu vaccine, have been associated with paresthesia as a rare adverse event.
- Studies have been conducted to monitor the safety of pandemic vaccines and their potential link to paresthesia.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been hypothesized to have a potential link to paresthesia.
- Large-scale surveillance studies have reviewed the rare adverse events associated with specific mRNA vaccines.
- A systematic review has explored the neurological complications of COVID-19 vaccines, including paresthesia.
Other Causes of Paresthesia
- Pyrethroid insecticides have been studied for their neurotoxicological effects, including paresthesia.
- Antiretroviral therapies used in HIV treatment can have orofacial effects, including paresthesia.
- Cannabis use in HIV patients for pain relief and other symptoms has been associated with paresthesia.
- Herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population can present with paresthesia.
- Dental procedures, such as local anesthetic administration, may lead to paresthesia as a side effect.
Treatment and Management of Paresthesia
- Treatment of paresthesia focuses on addressing the underlying cause, if possible.
- Managing symptoms may involve medications to relieve pain or discomfort associated with paresthesia.
- Physical therapy or occupational therapy may be recommended to improve nerve function.
- In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to relieve nerve compression.
- Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding activities that worsen symptoms or practicing stress management techniques, may also be beneficial for managing paresthesia.
Paresthesia is an abnormal sensation of the skin (tingling, pricking, chilling, burning, numbness) with no apparent physical cause. Paresthesia may be transient or chronic, and may have many possible underlying causes. Paresthesias are usually painless and can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly occur in the arms and legs.
Paresthesia | |
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Other names | Paraesthesia |
Pronunciation | |
Specialty | Neurology |
The most familiar kind of paresthesia is the sensation known as "pins and needles" after having a limb "fall asleep". A less well-known and uncommon paresthesia is formication, the sensation of insects crawling on the skin.
From Ancient Greek παρά (pará, “beside, abnormal”) + αἴσθησις (aísthēsis, “sensation”).