People with this disorder are very likely to injure themselves in ways that would normally be prevented by feeling pain. For example, a patient could burn themselves severely and not even notice. The main features of the disorder are lack of pain sensation, painless injuries of the arms, legs, and oral structures, hyperthermia during hot weather because of inability to sweat, syndromic intellectual disability as a result of hyperthermia, infection and scarring of the tongue, lips and gums, chronic infections of bones and joints, bone fractures, multiple scars, osteomyelitis and joint deformities, which may lead to amputation. Other common problems are eye related, such as infection due to the sufferers rubbing them too hard, too frequently or scratching them during sleep.
CIPA sufferers have to live an extremely cautious life, incorporating numerous controls as part of their daily routine. Every morning it will be necessary to check for bruises, scratches or other injuries that might have taken place during sleeping hours, as it is very common for CIPA patients to injure themselves unknowingly. Temperature measuring must be done constantly, as well as urination control, by setting alarms or other reminders. If any kind of accident is suffered, regardless of its type and severity, CIPA patients must go through a thorough check for compromising injuries. At young ages, permanent surveillance is vital. A lack of awareness of the extreme dangers this condition represents condemns the infant to a complete lack of tools against risk and harmful situations. There are several other procedures a CIPA patient has to undergo in order to live a safe life.