Hyperesthesia can be known as rare sensitivity disorder in which the affected person would have increased sensation of all senses. Sensitivity can occur in vision, smell, hearing and touch. Hyperesthesia includes comprehensive sensitivity disorder including touch sensitivity (tactile), auditory sensitivity, vision sensitivity and smell sensitivity.
Hyperesthesia gets resolved within few hours and the patient is recommended to take complete rest in a quiet place. Outside stimulus may or may not be present in some cases, but still the patient would feel increased sensitivity. The nerves involved are stimulated to large extent causing hypersensitivity. Stimulation occurs in the brain and spinal cord in the cortex and medulla region. Treatment is based on the underlying cause. The patient should be freed from stress and practice yoga techniques to prevent repeated episodes of hyperesthesia. Anti-seizure drugs and anti-anxiety medications can help in overcoming the symptoms.
Hyperesthesia Causes :
- Not one cause can be attributed for hyperesthesia. Sometimes external stimulus can be the original cause and other times it may not.
- Drinking excess of alcohol or coffee can result in over-stimulation of nervous system. Some experts are of view that this phenomenon occurs as a result or overstimulation of cerebrum and cortex region of the spinal cord. Cerebrum stimulation can cause increased sensitivity for short period.
- Tactile sensitivity is related with conditions of skin rashes or shingles which is a viral infection. For some people increased blood sugar level can cause peripheral neuropathy, thus damaging the nerves.
- Nerves are partially or completely impaired in patients with radiculopathy causing sensory stimulation.
- Children with autism and fragile X syndrome or ADHD disorder can develop tactile sensitivity in due course.