Potential etiologic factors in patients with persistent pruritus ani

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Potential etiologic factors in patients with persistent pruritus ani

Journal Title: Postępy Nauk Medycznych - Year 2015, Vol 28, Issue 3

Abstract

Introduction. Perianal pruritus is probably the most common cutaneous disorder of the genitoanal area. Studies on the epidemiology of causative factors are rare. It occurs in about 1-5% of the population, four times more often in men than women, most usually between the ages of 40-70.Aim. Evaluation of potential etiologic factors in adult patients with persistent anal pruritus.Material and methods. Over a 4-year period we prospectively studied 55 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of anal pruritus. The diagnostic algorithm comprised medical history, inspection, microbiology, laboratory chemistry, patch tests, proctoscopy, and biopsy if appropriate.Results. Twenty six patients had contact eczema. Idiopathic anal pruritus affected 14 of our patients. Five subjects had perianal streptococcal dermatitis and also 5 patients had intertrigo caused by candida albicans. Other diagnosis included inverted psoriasis, condylomata acuminate, erythrasma, oxyuriasis and paraneoplastic pruritus.Conclusions. Our study showed that the vast majority of patients have the typical characteristics of eczema in the anogenital area. Epidermal testing is a very important component of the diagnostic process. These findings suggest that referral to a dermatologist who cooperate with proctologist is the best option for patients with persistent pruritus ani.

Authors and Affiliations

Karolina Hadasik, Grzegorz Hadasik, Ligia Brzezińska-Wcisło

Keywords

EP ID EP55007
DOI -
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