Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA)

Gerrie DY Falame, Jim Laurence Jimenez, Martin John Recentes

Manila Science High School, Manila, Philippines
1. Introduction
The demand for the progression and innovation of education is evident in the 21st century. Tertiary level
education is now considered limited for the fact that the number of years of learning in tertiary education will
tantamount to an insufficient number of years of learning. Because of this, the increasing amount of specializations in
various areas of each discipline took place. However, along with this demand, the number of years of an individual’s
time of learning would also increase. With this problem at hand, starting an early childhood education became a great
prerogative for individuals who wanted to pursue fields in need for specialization.
However, there is a tendency for gene structure to go wrong, causing it to mutate. Some mutations are
permanent, and these are called genetic mutations. The U.S. Library of National Medicine described genetic mutations
to be permanent alterations in DNA sequence which makes up a gene such that the sequence differs from what is
found in most people. Mutations range in size; they can affect anywhere from a single DNA building block (base pair)
to a large segment of a chromosome that includes multiple genes.
Gene mutations can be classified in two major ways:
• Hereditary mutations are inherited from a parent and are present throughout a person’s life in
virtually every cell in the body. These mutations are also called germline mutations because they are present
in the parent’s egg or sperm cells, which are also called germ cells. When an egg and a sperm cell unite, the
resulting fertilized egg cell receives DNA from both parents. If this DNA has a mutation, the child that grows
from the fertilized egg will have the mutation in each of his or her cells.

• Acquired (or somatic) mutations occur at some time during a person’s life and are present only in
certain cells, not in every cell in the body. These changes can be caused by environmental factors such as
ultraviolet radiation from the sun, or can occur if an error is made as DNA copies itself during cell division.
Acquired mutations in somatic cells (cells other than sperm and egg cells) cannot be passed to the next
generation.

One such genetic mutation is the Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis, or more commonly known
as CIPA. CIPA is caused by a genetic mutation which prevents the formation of nerve cells which are responsible for
transmitting signals of pain, heat, and cold to the brain. This research article aims to expound on the signs, symptoms,
and possible cures and treatments towards CIPA.