II. Definition
- Vulvar Itching
III. Causes: Prepubertal Girls
- Poor hygiene
- Contact Dermatitis
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Bacterial Infection
- Pinworms
- Scabies
- Vaginal Candidiasis (uncommon in prepubertal girls)
- Lichen Sclerosus
IV. Causes: Young women
-
Vaginitis or infection
- Vaginal Candidiasis or rarely Tinea Cruris
- Trichomonas
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Herpes Simplex Virus (associated with burning pain)
- Scabies
- Pediculosis Pubis
- Human Papillomavirus or Molluscum Contagiosum
- Vulvar Dermatitis
- Other causes
- Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (HPV)
- Mechanical Trauma
V. Causes: Post-menopausal women
- Includes causes seen in young women
- Atrophic Vaginitis
- Lichen Sclerosus
- Paget's Disease of the vulva
- Vulvar Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma)
VI. Evaluation
- Biopsy atypical vulvar lesions (rule-out cancer)
VII. Management: Prevention
- Treat specific causes
- Use loose fitting cotton (100%) underpants
- Consider not wearing underwear overnight
- Use only unscented (hypoallergenic) soaps and lotions
- Use unscented laundry detergent without dyes
- Avoid fabric softeners
- Wipe front to back after urinating or defecating
- Use white, unscented toilet paper
- Urinate with knees spread apart
- Maintain Ideal Weight
- Manage Incontinence
- Consider sitz bath for 10 minutes daily (girls)
-
Pruritus Management with Sedating Antihistamine
- Hydroxyzine (Atarax) 50 mg PO at bedtime (adult dose)
- Wear cotton-liner gloves at night
- Use Vaginal Lubricants liberally before intercourse
- Use K-Y liquid instead of K-Y Jelly
- Astroglide
- Dry vulvar area gently after bath
- Pat dry or use hair dryer and
- Apply Skin Lubricant to vulva
- Vaseline
- Eucerin
- Crisco shortening (very effective)
- Avoid exacerbating factors
- Avoid scrubbing vulva
- Avoid douching
- Avoid panty liners or pads (use tampons instead)
- Avoid contraceptive foams
- Avoid Alcohol wipes
- Avoid bubble baths or prolonged soap exposures
- Use only Mild Soap or no soap on vulva
- Avoid hard water for bathing
- Avoid prolonged wearing of wet bathing suits
- Avoid tight restrictive clothing that causes sweating
- Avoid nylon tights or underwear
- Avoid frequent shaving of pubic hair (Folliculitis)
VIII. References
- Goroll (2000) Primary Care, Lippincott, p. 693-95
- Noble (2001) Primary Care, Mosby, p. 282
- Paek (2001) J Am Acad Dermatol 44:795-802 [PubMed]
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Definition (MSHCZE) | Intenzivní svědění vnějších ženských genitálií. R |
Definition (MSH) | Intense itching of the external female genitals. |
Concepts | Sign or Symptom (T184) |
MSH | D011539 |
ICD10 | L29.2 |
SnomedCT | 156382000, 267853004, 201014006, 201013000, 67882000 |
English | Pruritus Vulvae, PRURITUS VULVAE, Vulval pruritus, pruritus vulvae (diagnosis), vulvar itching (symptom), vulvar pruritus, pruritus vulvae, vulvar itching, Pruritus Vulvae [Disease/Finding], Itching;vulva, Pruritus;vulva, vulva itch, vulval itching, Vulvae - pruritus, Pruritus vulvae (disorder), Pruritus vulvae, Itching of vulva, Pruritus of vulva, Vulval itching, Pruritus of vulva (disorder), itch; vulva, pruritus; vulvae, vulva; itch, vulva; pruritus, vulvae; pruritus, itchy vulva, pruritis of vulva |
Portuguese | PRURIDO VULVAR, Prurido vulvar, Prurido Vulvar |
Spanish | PRURITO VULVAR, Picor vulvar, Prurito vulvar, prurito de la vulva (trastorno), prurito de la vulva, prurito vulvar, Prurito Vulvar |
German | PRURITUS VULVAE, Jucken der Vulva, Pruritis der Vulva, Pruritus vulvae |
Swedish | Klåda i vulva |
Dutch | pruritus van de vulva, vulvajeuk, vulvapruritus, jeuk; vulva, pruritus; vulvae, vulva; jeuk, vulva; pruritus, vulvae; pruritus, Pruritus vulvae |
French | Démangeaisons vulvaires, DEMANGEAISONS VAGINALES, Prurit vulvaire, Prurit de la vulve |
Italian | Prurito della vulva, Prurito vulvare |
Japanese | ガイインブソウヨウショウ, 外陰部そう痒症, 外陰部そう痒, ガイインブソウヨウ |
Czech | pruritus vulvae, Svědění vulvy, Vulvální pruritus, Pruritus vulvy, pruritus vulvy, pruritus zevních rodidel, svědění vulvy |
Finnish | Häpykutina |
Russian | VUL'VY ZUD, ВУЛЬВЫ ЗУД |
Korean | 외음가려움 |
Croatian | PRURITUS VULVE |
Polish | Świąd sromu |
Hungarian | pruritus vulvae, Vulva viszketés, vulvaris viszketés |
Norwegian | Underlivskløe, Pruritus vulvae |