Table: Some Causes of Peripheral Nerve and Related Disorders

Some Causes of Peripheral Nerve and Related Disorders

Type	Examples
Motor neuron diseases*
Hereditary	Spinal muscular atrophy Spinal Muscular Atrophies (SMAs) Spinal muscular atrophies are hereditary disorders in which nerve cells that originate in the spinal cord and brain stem degenerate, causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting. The five... read more types 0–4
Acquired diseases that begin suddenly	Polio Polio Polio is a highly contagious, sometimes fatal enterovirus infection that affects nerves and can cause permanent muscle weakness, paralysis, and other symptoms. Polio is caused by a virus and... read more , infections due to coxsackievirus or other enteroviruses Overview of Enterovirus Infections Enterovirus infections affect many parts of the body and may be caused by any of several different strains of enterovirus. Enterovirus infections are caused by many different viruses. Symptoms... read more (rare), and West Nile virus infection
Acquired diseases that are chronic	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis* Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Other Motor Neuron Diseases (MNDs) Motor neuron diseases are characterized by progressive deterioration of the nerve cells that initiate muscle movement. As a result, the muscles stimulated by these nerves deteriorate, become... read more (Lou Gehrig disease), paraneoplastic syndromes Paraneoplastic Syndromes Paraneoplastic (associated with cancer—see also Overview of Cancer) syndromes occur when a cancer causes unusual symptoms due to substances that circulate in the bloodstream. These substances... read more , postpolio syndrome Postpolio Syndrome Postpolio syndrome is a condition of muscle fatigue and weakness that develops years or decades after a polio infection. Some people who have had polio develop postpolio syndrome years or decades... read more , and progressive bulbar palsy Progressive bulbar palsy Motor neuron diseases are characterized by progressive deterioration of the nerve cells that initiate muscle movement. As a result, the muscles stimulated by these nerves deteriorate, become... read more
Nerve root disorders
Hereditary	Neurofibromas Neurofibromatosis Neurofibromatosis is a group of genetic disorders in which many soft, fleshy growths of nerve tissue (neurofibromas) form under the skin and in other parts of the body, and flat spots that are... read more (soft, fleshy growths of nerve tissue)
Acquired	A herniated disk Common causes , infections, injuries, metastatic cancer, osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoarthritis is a chronic disorder that causes damage to the cartilage and surrounding tissues and is characterized by pain, stiffness, and loss of function. Arthritis due to damage of joint... read more , and rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis in which joints, usually including those of the hands and feet, are inflamed, resulting in swelling, pain, and often destruction of joints.... read more
Plexus disorders
Acquired	Acute brachial neuritis Causes , autoimmune disorders Autoimmune Disorders An autoimmune disorder is a malfunction of the body's immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues. What triggers an autoimmune disorder is not known. Symptoms vary depending... read more , damage during delivery in newborns Birth Injuries in Newborns Birth injury is damage that occurs as a result of physical pressure during the birthing process, usually during transit through the birth canal. Many newborns have minor injuries during birth... read more , diabetes mellitus Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high. Urination and thirst are... read more , a hematoma (a pocket of blood), severe injuries (such as those due to high-speed motor vehicle accidents), metastatic cancer, neurofibromatosis Neurofibromatosis Neurofibromatosis is a group of genetic disorders in which many soft, fleshy growths of nerve tissue (neurofibromas) form under the skin and in other parts of the body, and flat spots that are... read more (rare), and nerve tumors
Peripheral nerve disorders
Hereditary	Hereditary neuropathies (such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a hereditary neuropathy in which the muscles of the lower legs become weak and waste away (atrophy). Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease affects nerves that control muscle... read more )
Infectious	Hepatitis C Hepatitis C, Acute Acute hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus and that lasts from a few weeks up to 6 months. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood or other... read more , herpes zoster Shingles Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by a viral infection that results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. What causes the virus to reactive... read more , HIV infection Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a viral infection that progressively destroys certain white blood cells and can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is transmitted... read more , Lyme disease Lyme Disease Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted infection caused by Borrelia species, primarily by Borrelia burgdorferi and sometimes by Borrelia mayonii in the United States. These... read more , SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 Hepatitis C, Acute Acute hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus and that lasts from a few weeks up to 6 months. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood or other... read more ), and syphilis Syphilis Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Syphilis can occur in three stages of symptoms, separated by periods of apparent good health. It... read more In developing countries, diphtheria Diphtheria Diphtheria is a contagious, sometimes fatal infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by the gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria (see figure How Bacteria Shape Up) Corynebacterium diphtheriae... read more , leprosy Leprosy Leprosy is a chronic infection usually caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. It results in damage primarily to the peripheral nerves (the nerves... read more , and parasite infections Overview of Parasitic Infections A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism (the host) and benefits (for example, by getting nutrients) from the host at the host's expense. Although this definition actually... read more
Inflammatory	Guillain-Barré syndrome Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Guillain-Barré syndrome is a form of polyneuropathy causing muscle weakness, which usually worsens over a few days to weeks, then slowly improves or returns to normal on its own. With treatment... read more and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is a form of polyneuropathy that, like Guillain-Barré syndrome, causes increasing muscle weakness, but the weakness progresses for more than... read more
Ischemic (due to blockage of the blood supply)	Vasculitis Overview of Vasculitis Vasculitic disorders are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). Vasculitis can be triggered by certain infections or drugs or can occur for unknown reasons. People may have... read more (inflammation of blood vessels)
Metabolic	Amyloidosis Amyloidosis Amyloidosis is a rare disease in which abnormally folded proteins form amyloid fibrils that accumulate in various tissues and organs, sometimes leading to organ dysfunction, organ failure, and... read more , diabetes mellitus, vitamin B deficiencies, undernutrition due to chronic excess consumption of alcohol Alcohol Use Alcohol (ethanol) is a depressant (it slows down brain and nervous system functioning). Consuming large amounts rapidly or regularly can cause health problems, including organ damage, coma,... read more , and kidney failure Overview of Kidney Failure This chapter includes a new section on COVID-19 and acute kidney injury (AKI). Kidney failure is the inability of the kidneys to adequately filter metabolic waste products from the blood. Kidney... read more
Pressure-related (called nerve entrapment syndromes)	Carpal tunnel syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful compression (pinching) of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The cause of most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown... read more , cubital tunnel syndrome Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Cubital tunnel syndrome is a disorder caused by compression (pinching) of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Repetitive use of the elbow can cause cubital tunnel syndrome. Symptoms include numbness... read more (a type of ulnar nerve palsy), radial nerve palsy Radial Tunnel Syndrome Radial tunnel syndrome is a disorder resulting from compression (pinching) of a branch of the radial nerve in the forearm or back of the arm or at the elbow. (See also Overview of Hand Disorders... read more , peroneal nerve palsy Peroneal nerve palsy Mononeuropathy is damage to a single peripheral nerve. Pressure on a nerve for a long time is the most common cause of mononeuropathy. The affected area may tingle, feel prickly, or be numb... read more , and tarsal tunnel syndrome Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Tarsal tunnel syndrome is pain in the ankle, foot, and sometimes toes caused by compression of or damage to the nerve supplying the heel and sole (posterior tibial nerve). Symptoms include burning... read more
Toxins	Arsenic, lead Lead Poisoning Lead poisoning affects many parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, kidneys, liver, and blood. Children are particularly susceptible because their nervous system is still developing... read more , and mercury
Neuromuscular junction disorders
Various	Botulism in infants Infant Botulism Infant botulism is a potentially life-threatening infection that causes muscle weakness. It develops in infants who eat food containing spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. (See... read more , Eaton-Lambert syndrome Eaton-Lambert Syndrome Eaton-Lambert syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that impairs communication between nerves and muscles, causing weakness. Eaton-Lambert syndrome usually precedes, occurs with, or develops after... read more , myasthenia gravis Myasthenia Gravis Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that impairs communication between nerves and muscles, resulting in episodes of muscle weakness. Myasthenia gravis results from malfunction of the... read more , and dysfunction caused by exposure to certain insecticides Insecticide Poisoning Insecticides are chemicals used to kill insects. Some insecticides are also dangerous to humans. Many insecticides can cause poisoning after being swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the... read more (organophosphate insecticides) or chemical-warfare agents Nerve Chemical-Warfare Agents There are many types of chemical-warfare agents that affect different parts of the body. Nerve agents (sometimes incorrectly called "nerve gas") affect how nerves transmit signals to muscles... read more (such as sarin gas and Novichok, which was developed in Russia and has been used in assassination attempts) or by use of certain drugs (such as curare, which has been used to help relax muscles during surgery and to paralyze and kill when placed on the tip of poison darts)
*Motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affect nerves in the brain as well as those in the spinal cord.