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Pruritus ani

MedGen UID:
46173
•Concept ID:
C0033775
•
Sign or Symptom
Synonym: Pruritus Ani
SNOMED CT: Pruritus ani (90446007); Anal itch (90446007)

Definition

Intense chronic itching in the anal area. [from MeSH]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVPruritus ani

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Evaluation, management and future perspectives of anal pruritus: a narrative review.
Jakubauskas M, Dulskas A
Eur J Med Res 2023 Feb 2;28(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s40001-023-01018-5. PMID: 36732860Free PMC Article
Pruritus ani: diagnosis and treatment.
Nasseri YY, Osborne MC
Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2013 Dec;42(4):801-13. Epub 2013 Nov 7 doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2013.09.002. PMID: 24280401
Pruritus ani: etiology and management.
Markell KW, Billingham RP
Surg Clin North Am 2010 Feb;90(1):125-35, Table of Contents. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2009.09.007. PMID: 20109637

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Diagnosis and Management of Anorectal Disorders in the Primary Care Setting.
Davies D, Bailey J
Prim Care 2017 Dec;44(4):709-720. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2017.07.012. PMID: 29132530
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is associated with a higher long-term recurrence rate of internal hemorrhoids compared with conventional excisional hemorrhoid surgery.
Jayaraman S, Colquhoun PH, Malthaner RA
Dis Colon Rectum 2007 Sep;50(9):1297-305. doi: 10.1007/s10350-007-0308-4. PMID: 17665254
The fecal microflora in pruritus ani.
Silverman SH, Youngs DJ, Allan A, Ambrose NS, Keighley MR
Dis Colon Rectum 1989 Jun;32(6):466-8. doi: 10.1007/BF02554498. PMID: 2791780
Common anorectal disorders.
Lieberman DA
Ann Intern Med 1984 Dec;101(6):837-46. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-101-6-837. PMID: 6388455
Induction of antigen specific hyposensitization to poison oak in sensitized adults.
Epstein WL, Byers VS, Frankart W
Arch Dermatol 1982 Sep;118(9):630-3. PMID: 6180687

Diagnosis

Benign anal disease.
Clark SJ
JAAPA 2016 Nov;29(11):23-29. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000502857.05728.98. PMID: 27749400
Anorectal Complaints in the Emergency Department.
Tupe CL, Pham TV
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2016 May;34(2):251-70. Epub 2016 Mar 23 doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2015.12.013. PMID: 27133243
Pruritus ani.
Zuccati G, Lotti T, Mastrolorenzo A, Rapaccini A, Tiradritti L
Dermatol Ther 2005 Jul-Aug;18(4):355-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2005.00031.x. PMID: 16297009
Pruritus ani.
Heard S
Aust Fam Physician 2004 Jul;33(7):511-3. PMID: 15301168
Pruritus ani.
Giordano M, Rebesco B, Torelli I, Blanco G, Cattarini G
Minerva Chir 1999 Dec;54(12):885-91. PMID: 10736994

Therapy

Itch in Special Skin Locations Management.
Misery L
Curr Probl Dermatol 2016;50:111-5. Epub 2016 Aug 23 doi: 10.1159/000446051. PMID: 27578079
Pruritus ani.
Heard S
Aust Fam Physician 2004 Jul;33(7):511-3. PMID: 15301168
Enterobiasis.
Libbus MK
Nurse Pract 1983 Sep;8(8):17-8. PMID: 6633980
Steroid addiction.
Kligman AM, Frosch PJ
Int J Dermatol 1979 Jan-Feb;18(1):23-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1979.tb01905.x. PMID: 153891
Pruritus ani--perianal psoriasis.
Lochridge E Jr
South Med J 1969 Apr;62(4):450-2. PMID: 5777530

Prognosis

Diagnosis and Management of Anorectal Disorders in the Primary Care Setting.
Davies D, Bailey J
Prim Care 2017 Dec;44(4):709-720. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2017.07.012. PMID: 29132530
Perianal streptococcal dermatitis: an important differential diagnosis in pediatric patients.
Jongen J, Eberstein A, Peleikis HG, Kahlke V, Herbst RA
Dis Colon Rectum 2008 May;51(5):584-7. Epub 2008 Mar 7 doi: 10.1007/s10350-008-9237-0. PMID: 18324440
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is associated with a higher long-term recurrence rate of internal hemorrhoids compared with conventional excisional hemorrhoid surgery.
Jayaraman S, Colquhoun PH, Malthaner RA
Dis Colon Rectum 2007 Sep;50(9):1297-305. doi: 10.1007/s10350-007-0308-4. PMID: 17665254
Pruritus ani.
Heard S
Aust Fam Physician 2004 Jul;33(7):511-3. PMID: 15301168
Perianal Paget's disease. Classification and review of management: report of two cases.
Shutze WP, Gleysteen JJ
Dis Colon Rectum 1990 Jun;33(6):502-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02052147. PMID: 2161727

Clinical prediction guides

Efficacy and safety of methylene blue injection for intractable idiopathic pruritus ani: a single-arm metaanalysis and systematic review.
Jia W, Li Q, Ni J, Zhang Y, Wu L, Xu L
Tech Coloproctol 2023 Oct;27(10):813-825. Epub 2023 Jun 12 doi: 10.1007/s10151-023-02825-y. PMID: 37306793
Efficacy of topical tacrolimus for the treatment of persistent pruritus ani in patients with atopic dermatitis.
Ucak H, Demir B, Cicek D, Dertlioglu SB, Akkurt ZM, Ucmak D, Halisdemir N
J Dermatolog Treat 2013 Dec;24(6):454-7. Epub 2013 May 31 doi: 10.3109/09546634.2013.800181. PMID: 23638997
1% hydrocortisone ointment is an effective treatment of pruritus ani: a pilot randomized controlled crossover trial.
Al-Ghnaniem R, Short K, Pullen A, Fuller LC, Rennie JA, Leather AJM
Int J Colorectal Dis 2007 Dec;22(12):1463. Epub 2007 May 30 doi: 10.1007/s00384-007-0325-8. PMID: 17534634
Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal margin with pruritus ani of long duration.
Handa Y, Watanabe O, Adachi A, Yamanaka N
Dermatol Surg 2003 Jan;29(1):108-10. doi: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2003.29003.x. PMID: 12534524
Hypnosis in a case of long-standing idiopathic itch.
Rucklidge JJ, Saunders D
Psychosom Med 1999 May-Jun;61(3):355-8. doi: 10.1097/00006842-199905000-00015. PMID: 10367616

Recent systematic reviews

Efficacy and safety of methylene blue injection for intractable idiopathic pruritus ani: a single-arm metaanalysis and systematic review.
Jia W, Li Q, Ni J, Zhang Y, Wu L, Xu L
Tech Coloproctol 2023 Oct;27(10):813-825. Epub 2023 Jun 12 doi: 10.1007/s10151-023-02825-y. PMID: 37306793
Systematic review of topical capsaicin in the treatment of pruritus.
Gooding SM, Canter PH, Coelho HF, Boddy K, Ernst E
Int J Dermatol 2010 Aug;49(8):858-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2010.04537.x. PMID: 21128913
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is associated with a higher long-term recurrence rate of internal hemorrhoids compared with conventional excisional hemorrhoid surgery.
Jayaraman S, Colquhoun PH, Malthaner RA
Dis Colon Rectum 2007 Sep;50(9):1297-305. doi: 10.1007/s10350-007-0308-4. PMID: 17665254

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