Pruritis

Pruritus is an itch or a prodigy that makes a person want to scratch. Pruritus can cause discomfit and be frustrating. The skin of the perirectal portion is exposed to irritating digestive products in the stool; this may lead to an itchy rash, specially when stools are frequent.

Generally the rash is worsened by vigorous use of toilet tissue or scrubbing with soap and water. It can be caused by a number of disorders, including dry skin, skin disease, pregnancy, and rarely, cancer. Other reasons of pruritus include infection, tumor, or a fungus. In addition, different medications can cause pruritus.

Pruritus may be a embodiment of an internal condition. The most common instance is kidney failure. Anyone can get pruritus but specific groups of people are more susceptible to the condition. Many types of liver disease like hepatitis, thyroid disease including both hyper and hypo thyroid hormone levels, some blood disorders such as lymphomas, iron deficiency anemia, polycythemia vera, multiple myeloma, and neurologic conditions such as pinched nerves and post herpetic neuralgia can cause itch.

Pruritus is more common in elderly people. Age is not associated to the development of pruritus in systemic disease. Barbiturates, salicylates, morphine, and cocaine can cause pruritus. Less well-defined causes of pruritus involve hyper- and hypothyroidism, diabetes, iron deficiency, and internal cancers of many forms. Pruritus is rarely psychogenic. Itching, unlike other skin sensations, is usually a result of CNS activities, and typically goes uncured by standard medical therapies. Any underlying cause is treated. Supportive treatment involves proper skin care and use of topical, systemic, and physical agents.

Causes of Pruritus

The common causes and risk factor's of Pruritus include the following:

Many skin conditions cause itchy skin, including psoriasis, inflammation of the skin (dermatitis), scabies, lice, chickenpox and hives.
Barbiturates, salicylates, morphine, and cocaine can cause pruritus.
Alcohol, coffee, tea and spicy foods make pruritus worse. These foods irritate the digestive tract and increase the number of stools or amount of mucus secreted from the rectum.
A tumour of the anus or rectum is a rare cause of itch around the anus.
Threadworms are a common cause.
Chemical intoxication with mercury or diamino diphenylmethane.

Symptoms of Pruritus

Some symptoms related to Pruritus are as follows:

Bumps, spots or blisters.
Leathery or scaly texture to the skin.
Severe headache may also be possible.
Dry, cracked skin.
The disease may be accompanied by sudden onset of sustained fever.
Nausea and severe loss of appetite.

Treatment of Pruritus

Here is list of the methods for treating Pruritus:

Lotrimin cream mixed with hydrocortisone 1% cream applied daily. Both of these are available over the counter at your local drug store.
To remove any small particles of motion, the area can be kept thoroughly clean by washing with warm water (e.g. After each bowel action and/or before retiring at night).
If an ointment is not being used, a drying powder or baby powder can be applied but avoid perfumed talcum powder etc.
Regular use of emollients, especially if skin is dry.
Anti-epileptic drugs such as gabapentin may also be of benefit to some patients.
Ultraviolet light treatments may be used in some cases.

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