What is "hypoesthesia"

n. partial loss of tactile sensation; numbness

n. impairment of tactile sensitivity; decrease of sensitivity [syn: hypesthesia]

Hypoesthesia (or hypesthesia) refers to a reduced sense of touch or sensation, or a partial loss of sensitivity to sensory stimuli. In everyday speech this is sometimes referred to as "numbness".

Hypoesthesia is one of the negative sensory symptoms associated with cutaneous sensory disorder (CSD). In this condition, patients have abnormal disagreeable skin sensations that can be increased (stinging, itching or burning) or decreased (numbness or hypoesthesia). There are no other apparent medical diagnoses to explain these symptoms.

Cutaneous hyperesthesia has been associated with diagnosis of appendicitis in children but this symptom was not supported by the evidence.

Hypoesthesia is also one of the more common manifestations of decompression sickness (DCS), along with joint pain, rash and generalized fatigue.