Dermatology Book

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Pruritic Condition

Aka: Pruritic Condition, Pruritus, Itch
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  1. See Also
    1. Pruritus Causes
    2. Pruritus Management
  2. Definition: Pruritus
    1. Unpleasant cutaneous sensation provoking scratching
    2. Itch
  3. Epidemiology
    1. Very common in elderly patients
  4. Pathophysiology
    1. Nerve fiber involvement
      1. Origin of itch is within skin free nerve endings
        1. Fibers most concentrated in wrists and ankles
        2. Unmyelinated C fibers to dorsal horn in spinal cord
      2. Scratching is a spinal reflex response
      3. Ascends to cerebral cortex via spinothalamic tract
    2. Chemical mediators
      1. Substance P
      2. Opioid and nonopioid peptides
      3. Somatostatin
      4. Neurokinin A
      5. Histamine
      6. Serotonin
      7. Prostaglandins
    3. External mediators
      1. Skin inflammation
      2. Environmental heat or dryness
      3. Vasodilation
      4. Psychological concerns
  5. Causes
    1. See Pruritus Causes
  6. Evaluation
    1. Identify primary Dermatologic Causes of Pruritus
      1. Atopic Dermatitis: Atopy, Asthma, or Urticaria
      2. Contagious contacts (Pediculosis or Scabies)
      3. Consider Localized Causes of Pruritus
      4. Consider Timing (Xerotic Eczema worse in winter)
    2. Identify potential exposures
      1. See Environmental Causes of Pruritus
      2. See Medication Causes of Pruritus
    3. Review mental health concerns (e.g. Major Depression)
    4. Consider Systemic Causes of Pruritus
      1. Observe for cholestasis (e.g. Jaundice, Hepatomegaly)
      2. Observe for Lymphadenopathy
      3. Observe for thyromegaly
  7. Labs: Systemic Cause Evaluation
    1. Approach
      1. Base lab testing on history and physical
      2. Avoid broad shotgun approach to lab testing
    2. Dermatologic Cause Evaluation
      1. Skin Scrapings for Scabies and Dermatophytosis
      2. Skin biopsy
        1. Mastocytosis
        2. Mycosis Fungoides
        3. Autoimmune Bullous Disease
    3. Systemic Cause Evaluation
      1. Thyroid Function Test (evaluate for Hyperthyroidism)
      2. HIV Test for high risk behaviors
      3. Liver Function Tests (evaluate for cholestasis)
        1. Serum Bilirubin
        2. Alkaline Phosphatase
      4. Hematologic tests
        1. Serum Ferritin
        2. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
        3. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
        4. Calcium
        5. Albumin
  8. Radiology: Systemic Cause Evaluation
    1. Chest XRay (if Lymphoma suspected)
    2. Right upper quadrant Ultrasound (for cholestasis)
  9. Complications of persistent scratching
    1. Bacterial superinfection
    2. Lichen Simplex Chronicus
      1. Thickened skin in response to repeated scratching
  10. Management
    1. See Nonspecific Management of Pruritus
  11. References
    1. Shellow in Goroll (2000) Primary Care, p. 1001-4
    2. Bernhard (1990) Adv Dermatol 6:57
    3. Fleisher (1995) Adv Dermatol 10:41
    4. Garden (1985) Arch Dermatol 121(11):1415-20
    5. Gilchrest (1982) Arch Dermatol 118(3):154-6
    6. Greco (1992) J Gen Intern Med 7:340
    7. Gupta (1992) J Am Acad Dermatol 27(1):118-20
    8. Hagermark (1995) Semin Dermatol 14:320
    9. Kam (1996) Anaesthesia 51:1133
    10. Kantor (1995) Semin Dermatol 14:290
    11. Millikan (1996) Postgrad Med 99:173
    12. Swerlick (1985) J Am Acad Dermatol 13(4):675-7
    13. Teofoli (1996) Int J Dermatol 35:159
    14. Valsecchi (1983) Arch Dermatol 119(8):630

Pruritus (C0033774)

Definition (NCI) A disorder characterized by an intense itching sensation.
Definition (MEDLINEPLUS)

Itching is skin tingling or irritation that makes you want to scratch the itchy area. It's a symptom of many health conditions. Common causes are

To soothe itchy skin, you can try cold compresses, lotions and lukewarm baths. Avoid scratching, wearing irritating fabrics and high heat and humidity. Most itching is not serious. However, if you itch all over, have hives that keep coming back or have itching without an apparent cause, you might require medical attention.

Definition (NCI) Itching. Severe itching may be a side effect of some cancer treatments and a symptom of some types of cancers.
Definition (MSH) An intense itching sensation that produces the urge to rub or scratch the skin to obtain relief.
Definition (NCI) An intense itching sensation.
Definition (CSP) intense itching sensation that produces the urge to rub or scratch the skin to obtain relief.
Concepts Sign or Symptom (T184)
MSH D011537
ICD9 698.9
ICD10 L29, L29.9
SnomedCT 424492005, 78934009, 156380008, 271588004, 183758005, 201371004, 267804004, 279333002, 201027005, 32738000, 367516003, 418290006, 418363000
English Itching, Pruritis, Pruritus, Unspecified pruritic disorder, ITCHING, PRURITIS, PRURITUS, Pruritus, NOS, pruritis, Itch of skin, NOS, Pruritic dermatitis, NOS, Pruritus of skin, NOS, Irritation - sensation, Pruritic disorders, Pruritis (excl D05 X16), Pruritis (excluding D05 X16), Pruritus NOS, Pruritus, unspecified, Skin Pruritus, [X]Pruritus, unspecified, Itch of skin (observable entity), Itch of skin, Irritating sensation, itching (pruritus), pruritus (symptom), pruritus, itching skin, itching, Pruritus (disorder), Pruritus cutaneous, Itchy skin, PRURITIC DISORDER, [X]Pruritus, unspecified (disorder), Pruritic disorder NOS, Pruritus NOS (disorder), Itch NOS, Pruritus [Disease/Finding], skin itch, itchy, itch skin, skin itching, Itching;skin, Pruritus;skin, pruritic dermatitis, Pruritus - disorder, Pruritic dermatitis, Pruritic disorders (disorder), Pruritus of skin, Pruritic disorder, itch, Pruritus [Ambiguous], Pruritus [dup] (finding), Pruritus of skin (finding) [Ambiguous], Pruritus of skin (finding), Pruritic Disorder, itchy skin, pruritis of skin, Itch, Itchy, Pruritus (finding), Itching (finding), Itching of skin (finding), Itching of skin
French PRURIT, Affection prurigineuse non précisée, Prurit cutané, Prurit SAI, Démangeaisons, Démangeaison de la peau, Avec démangeaisons, DEMANGEAISONS, Prurit (SF D05 X16), Prurit, Démangeaison
Portuguese PRURIDO, Afecção pruriginosa NE, Pele pruriginosa, Pruriginoso, Prurido cutâneo, Prurido NE, PRURIDO (COCEIRA), Prurido/ardor (excl D05 X16), Prurido, Coceira
Spanish PRURITO, prurito (hallazgo), prurito cutáneo (hallazgo), prurito cutáneo, prurito, Comezón, Picor, Prurito NEOM, Prurito cutáneo, Trastorno prurítico no especificado, Picor en piel, picazón, prurito cutáneo (entidad observable), escozor, Pruritus NOS, Skin irritation, Itch, Irritating sensation, Pruritus [Ambiguous], Irritation - sensation, Pruritus [dup] (finding), Pruritus, PICOR, Prurito/escozor piel(ex D05 X16), [X]prurito, no especificado, [X]prurito, no especificado (trastorno), dermatitis pruriginosa, picazón de la piel, prurito de la piel (concepto no activo), prurito de la piel (hallazgo), prurito, SAI (trastorno), prurito, SAI, dermatitis pruriginosas, enfermedades pruriginosas, picar, prurito cutáneo (trastorno), prurito cutáneo, SAI, prurito de la piel, enfermedad pruriginosa, trastorno pruriginoso (trastorno), trastorno pruriginoso, trastornos pruriginosos de la piel, Prurito, Picazon, Picazón
Dutch pruritus NAO, jeuk, jeuken, jeukende huid, niet-gespecificeerde pruritus, pruritus cutaneus, jeukend, Pruritus/jeuk (ex D05 X16), Pruritus, niet gespecificeerd, pruritus, Jeuk, Pruritus
German Pruritis kutan, unspezifische von Jucken begleitete Stoerungen, Pruritis, Jucken, juckende haut, Pruritus NNB, juckend, HAUTJUCKEN, JUCKREIZ, Pruritus, nicht naeher bezeichnet, Pruritus/Juckreiz (ex D05 X16), Hautjucken, Pruritus
Italian Prurito cutaneo, Cute pruriginosa, Prurigine, Prurito NAS, Pizzicore, Sensazione di prurito, Affezioni pruriginose non specificate, Pruriginoso, Prurito(escl D05 X16), Pruritus, Prurito
Japanese そう痒症ＮＯＳ, 皮膚そう痒, 詳細不明のそう痒性疾患, ｿｳﾖｳ, ﾋﾌｿｳﾖｳｼｮｳ, ｿｳﾖｳｼｮｳNOS, ﾋﾌｿｳﾖｳ, ｿｳﾖｳｼｮｳ, ｼｮｳｻｲﾌﾒｲﾉｿｳﾖｳｾｲｼｯｶﾝ, そう痒症, かゆみ, そうよう, そう痒, 掻痒, 痒み, 皮膚そう痒症, かゆみ症
Swedish Klåda, KLADA/PRURITUS (EXKL D05 X16)
Czech pruritus, svědění, Svědící, Svědění, Svědění kůže, Pruritus NOS, Pruritus, Blíže neurčené svědivé poruchy
Finnish Kutina, KUTINA (PPL. D05 X16)
Russian ZUD, ЗУД
Norwegian HUDKLOE/IRRITASJON EKS X16
Danish Hudkloe irritation (ex D05 X16)
Hungarian viszketes (kiv. D05, X16), Nem meghatározott viszkető betegség, Viszkető bőr, Viszketés, Viszketegség, Viszket, pruritus, Viszkető, bőrviszketés, Viszketés k.m.n.
Korean 상세불명의 가려움, 가려움
Croatian PRURITUS
Basque HAZNAHIA, ERRASUMINA (ESKL. UZKIGENITALA D05)
Hebrew iktzutz
Polish Świąd
Sources
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)


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