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Typically, senile pruritus is diagnosed following an exclusion process starting with a complete physical exam. If a person is exhibiting signs and symptoms of senile pruritus, a laboratory exam may not be recommended by a doctor at the initial doctor's visit unless there are other indicators of an underlying disease.
This is a shortened version of the twelfth chapter of the ICD-9: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue. It covers ICD codes 680 to 709. The full chapter can be found on pages 379 to 393 of Volume 1, which contains all (sub)categories of the ICD-9. Volume 2 is an alphabetical index of Volume 1.
An itch (also known as pruritus) is a sensation that causes a strong desire or reflex to scratch. [1] Itches have resisted many attempts to be classified as any one type of sensory experience. Itches have many similarities to pain , and while both are unpleasant sensory experiences, their behavioral response patterns are different.
Oxcarbazepine was reported to reduce the severity of symptoms in a few cases. [10] One patient has been treated with "paravertebral nerve blocks, with bupivacaine and methylprednisolone acetate injected into the T3–T4 and T5–T6 intervertebral spaces" [ 11 ] Hydroxyzine has also been used with considerable success in some cases as long as ...
In a normal case, the swelling will decrease without treatment within 15–30 minutes, but, in extreme cases, itchy red welts may last anywhere from a few hours to days. In some cases, welts are accompanied with a painful burning sensation. [3] This calls for more urgent treatment as the condition can impact on the patient's quality of life.
The exact mechanism of the condition is unknown. Some studies have suggested the itching occurs in response to increased fibrinolytic activity in the skin, [5] [6] inappropriate activation of the sympathetic nervous system, [7] increased activity of acetylcholinesterase, [8] [9] or an increase in mast cell degranulation that releases histamine and other chemicals into the body.
Infection on the skin of the feet may cause athlete's foot and in the groin, jock itch. Involvement of the nails is termed onychomycosis . Animals including dogs and cats can also be affected by ringworm, and the disease can be transmitted between animals and humans, making it a zoonotic disease .
Pruritus can be seen with hepatic and renal disease such as cholestasis, alcoholic liver disease, primary biliary cholangitis, hepatitis B and C, and chronic kidney disease. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] Drug and alcohol use can contribute to pruritus as well so it is worthwhile to gather a social history.