Diagnostic Work-up of the Itchy Patient

Sarina B Elmariah

doi:10.1016/j.det.2018.02.002

Diagnostic Work-up of the Itchy Patient

Dermatol Clin. 2018 Jul;36(3):179-188. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2018.02.002. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Author

Sarina B Elmariah¹

Affiliation

¹ Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: sbelmariah@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 29929591
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2018.02.002

Abstract

Pruritus is a common and troubling symptom associated with many dermatologic, systemic, neurologic, or psychiatric disorders. This article reviews the current understanding of the pathogenesis of itch and offers a differential diagnosis for the causes of chronic pruritus. The article discusses key diagnostic steps and considerations when evaluating patients with chronic pruritus.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Evaluation; Itch; Neuropathic; Pruriceptive; Pruritus; Systemic.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biopsy
Chronic Disease
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Medical History Taking
Physical Examination
Pruritus / classification
Pruritus / diagnosis*
Pruritus / etiology*
Pruritus / pathology
Skin / pathology