Strange girl: Never knows pain

A girl who could not feel pain, urged scientists to learn about a gene mutation that affects how we perceive pain.

German researchers compared the genetic sequence of a girl with "innate pain to pain" with the genetic sequences of her parents, who did not suffer from the disease.

Because of a rare disease, female patients (who are still kept anonymous) can sense touches, but are not aware of the pain. Therefore, she easily burns herself, not knowing what is too hot, should not touch and often hurt.

According to New Scientist, the comparison of the gene sequence helped Dr. Ingo Kurth of Jena University Hospital (Germany) detect a mutation in SCN11A gene , which affects the construction of signaling channels on those neurons perceive pain. Mutations in SCN11A gene mean, the means of transmitting the electrical impulses needed by nerve cells cannot form, causing the body to be unable to detect pain.

The girl with "innate anesthesia with pain" (CIP) easily hurts herself, especially burns, or does not recognize whether she is infected or injured.(Artwork: Weird News)

To ensure their skepticism is correct, Kurth and colleagues caused mutated mice with SCN11A gene and tested their ability to detect pain. They found that these mice were more likely to be injured than normal species of the same species. They also have a much slower reaction to pain when the tail is exposed to a hot light source. All this implies, these animals are unable to recognize pain.

Scientists hope, the discovery could lead to the introduction of new types of pain relief, working by preventing all signals of pain. They have now begun a study of a drug that neutralizes SCN11A gene mutations.

The "innate insensitivity to pain" (CIP) is an extremely rare disease, so far the world medicine has recorded about 20 cases of people suffering from this disease.

CIP makes the sufferer unable to feel the pain, even though he still knows the touches. This is in fact very dangerous, because sometimes patients hurt themselves by biting into their gums, cutting knives or having fever that is too hot without feeling anything. They may not detect themselves with infections or lesions, making the condition worse if not treated promptly.

CIP can be caused by a genetic mutation, but it can also be caused by the brain producing too many hormones that cause excitement, endorphin.