Neuropathies of infectious origin

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathies can be caused by a variety of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Infectious neuropathies are potentially treatable, and thus their recognition is crucial. In some developing countries, they constitute the main cause of peripheral neuropathy, with leprosy being the most relevant. The presentation of infectious neuropathies encompasses a wide range of peripheral nervous system disorders, including peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, radiculomyelopathy, cranial neuropathy, and motor neuropathy. This chapter describes the most frequent neuropathies of infectious origin. While some of them represent well-known clinical syndromes, there are other recently reported neuropathies caused by emergent viruses, an example of which is illustrated by the association between Zika virus infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome.