ABSTRACT
Peripheral neuropathies have various causes, both infectious and non-infectious. When we think of "epidemics", we often refer to an infectious or even post-infectious origin. Nevertheless, the history of mankind is marked by episodes of epidemics of peripheral neuropathies of non-infectious nature, either of nutritional or toxic origin: we present here the main causes of such epidemics.
Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases , Epidemics , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases , Causality , Disease Outbreaks , Humans , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/epidemiology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/etiologyABSTRACT
Toxic neuropathy, although rare, is an important consideration in the setting of a known or suspected toxic exposure in the workplace or other environment. This chapter discusses the clinical and electrodiagnostic evaluation of peripheral neuropathies, highlighting findings that direct further workup and may point to specific toxins as etiology. The difficulty of establishing causality of a toxin in relation to peripheral neuropathy is discussed; guidelines for establishing causality are presented. Examples of common industrial toxins are listed, including their typical industrial uses and their mechanisms of action in producing neuropathy. Characteristic clinical presentations of specific toxic neuropathies are highlighted with selected case studies.