What Are The Causes And Complications Of Charcot Foot?

Infections

Infections can be the cause of an individual's peripheral neuropathy that results in the development of Charcot foot. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can spread to an individual's central nervous system when it is left untreated for several years. This infection results in an inflammatory response that causes the patient to develop numbness in some regions of the body. When this occurs in the individual's feet and ankle, Charcot foot can develop.

Another infection called poliomyelitis is caused by a virus that adversely affects the function of the central nervous system, resulting in peripheral paralyzation. When an individual is paralyzed in the ankle and foot due to polio, they can develop Charcot foot. HIV can also cause a patient to experience neuropathy in their extremities that can result in Charcot foot. Other infectious diseases that can cause Charcot foot include Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C, rabies, herpes, brucellosis, leprosy, Lyme disease, hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus, and shingles. Patients affected by Charcot foot may also develop an unnoticed ulcer on the foot that can easily become infected as a complication of their disorder.

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