What is it?

Neuropathy, in general, is damage and disfunction of nerves in the peripheral nervous system.
The peripheral nervous system, sends information from the central nervous system to the rest of the body, and also send sensory information to the central nervous system.
The nerves damaged can include all three type of nerves (motor nerves, sensory nerves and autonomic nerves), and the damage causes numbness, tingling, muscle weakness and pain in the affected area.
Hereditary neuropathies are a group of inherited disorders affecting the peripheral nervous system. Hereditary neuropathy is divides to categories - motor and sensory neuropathy, sensory neuropathy, motor neuropathy, sensory and autonomic neuropathy.
In idiopathic neuropathy, peripheral nervous system are affected and no obvious underlying etiology is found.
Neuropathy is also a result of many other conditions, such as genetic diseases, diabetes, trauma, infections, autoimmune diseases, specific medications (some antibiotics, for example) and vascular disorders.