Question 1

Q: Which of the following is true about allodynia?

Perception of a non-painful stimulus as pain. **Explanation:** **Allodynia** is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as **pain due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain**. It is a hallmark of neuropathic pain and central sensitization. In this condition, the threshold for pain is lowered such that innocuous stimuli (like a light touch, the brush of clothing, or a breeze) are perceived as painful. **Analysis of Options:** * **Option C (Correct):** This directly matches the definition. It involves a change in the *quality* of sensation, where a non-noxious stimulus triggers a pain response. * **Option A (Incorrect):** **Hyperalgesia** is an *increased* response to a stimulus that is *normally* painful (e.g., a pinprick feeling like a stab). While both involve sensitization, allodynia involves a non-painful trigger, whereas hyperalgesia involves a painful one. * **Option B (Incorrect):** Loss of sensory sensation is termed **anesthesia** or **hypesthesia**. Allodynia is a positive sensory phenomenon (gain of function), not a loss. * **Option D (Incorrect):** **Hyperesthesia** is a broad term referring to increased sensitivity to any stimulus (touch, thermal, etc.), not specifically the conversion of a non-painful stimulus into pain. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Mechanism:** Allodynia is primarily mediated by **A-beta fibers** (normally responsible for light touch) "shunting" signals into the pain pathways due to central sensitization in the spinal cord dorsal horn. * **Dynamic vs. Static:** Allodynia can be **mechanical** (moving a cotton wisp) or **thermal** (mild warmth feeling like a burn). * **Common Clinical Scenarios:** Post-herpetic neuralgia, Migraine (scalp tenderness), and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Question

Which of the following is true about allodynia?

Accepted Answer

Perception of a non-painful stimulus as pain

Answer

Hyperalgesia

Answer

Loss of sensory sensations

Answer

Hyperesthesia

Pain Management — MCQs

Pain Management — MCQs

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