Open AccessDiagnosing peripheral neuropathy in South‐East Asia: A focus on diabetic neuropathy
Author(s) -
Malik Rayaz A,
AndagSilva Aimee,
Dejthevaporn Charungthai,
Hakim Manfaluthy,
Koh Jasmine S,
Pinzon Rizaldy,
Sukor Norlela,
Wong Ka Sing
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of diabetes investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.089
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 2040-1124
pISSN - 2040-1116
DOI - 10.1111/jdi.13269
Subject(s) - medicine , peripheral neuropathy , diabetes mellitus , leprosy , diabetic neuropathy , polyneuropathy , hepatitis b , dermatology , intensive care medicine , endocrinology
Burning and stabbing pain in the feet and lower limbs can have a significant impact on the activities of daily living, including walking, climbing stairs and sleeping. Peripheral neuropathy in particular is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed because of a lack of awareness amongst both patients and physicians. Furthermore, crude screening tools, such as the 10‐g monofilament, only detect advanced neuropathy and a normal test will lead to false reassurance of those with small fiber mediated painful neuropathy. The underestimation of peripheral neuropathy is highly prevalent in the South‐East Asia region due to a lack of consensus guidance on routine screening and diagnostic pathways. Although neuropathy as a result of diabetes is the most common cause in the region, other causes due to infections (human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B or C virus), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, drug‐induced neuropathy (cancer chemotherapy, antiretrovirals and antituberculous drugs) and vitamin deficiencies (vitamin B 1 , B 6 , B 12 , D) should be actively excluded.