Symptoms Of Congenital Insensitivity To Pain

Loss Of The Ability To Smell

Medically known as anosmia, individuals with CIPA have no sense of smell. Although pain and smell are two very different sensations, the brain uses the same information channels to receive pain signals and odors. The mutations caused by CIPA block the path pain signals use to reach the brain. Since the nose uses these same damaged channels to send signals to the brain, CIPA results in the loss of the ability to smell. This may not seem like a major medical issue, but the ability to smell leaking gas or smoke can prove important since these scents can be signs of imminent danger. Infected wounds also produce unpleasant smells individuals with CIPA may miss.

Get ready for the most iconic symptom of congenital insensitivity to pain.