Peripheral neuropathy is frequently encountered in the clinical setting by doctors of various specialties. Neuropathies can be approached based on the temporal profile, spatial pattern and pathology.

There is a need for eliciting a focused history, co-morbidities, exposure to medications and toxins, family history and examination, electrodiagnostic testing and laboratory testing.

The prevalence of neuropathy is based on epidemiological studies, and it is important to know the yield of etiological diagnosis, even after extensive investigations.

Acute neuropathies include Guillain-Barre syndrome, porphyria, ICU-acquired paresis, neuropathies associated with systemic diseases, autoimmune diseases, nutritional, toxic and genetic disorders.

It is important to have knowledge about electro-diagnostic characteristics, the role of nerve biopsy in select cases, treatment, both disease-modifying and symptomatic and outcome.

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