Skip to main content
General Medicine

Pruritus Ani

Anna L. Silverman, MD, Vivian Lee, MD and Marie L. Borum, MD, EdD, MPH, MACP, FACG, AGAF Reviewed 06/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Intense anal/perianal itching and/or burning

  • Usually acute

  • Classified as idiopathic (primary) or secondary (~75% of cases) to anorectal pathology (1)

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Incidence

  • 1–5% of the ge...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Patient presents with complaint of anal and/or perianal itching, burning, or excoriation.

  • Inquire about:

    • Timing (when it started, when it is worse)

    • Frequency of cleansing and products us...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Proper anal hygiene. Avoid chemical and mechanical irritants and wear proper undergarments (1).

  • High-fiber diet and/or bowel regimen to maintain regular bowel movements (1)

  • Avo...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

See patient every 2 weeks if not improving. Ensure proper hygiene and avoidance of irritants. Work up for systemic disease, and check for persistent lichenificati...

REFERENCES

1
Ansari P. Pruritus ani. Clin Colon Rectal Surg.  2016;29(1):38–42. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
2
Abramowitz L, Benabderrahmane M, Pospait D, et al. The prevalence of proctological sy...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Misery L. Itch in special skin locations management. Curr Probl Dermatol.  2016;50:111–115. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

  • Schubert MC, Sridhar S, Schade RR, et al. What every g...

CODES

ICD10

L29.0 Pruritus ani 

ICD9

698.0 Pruritus ani 

SNOMED

90446007 Pruritus ani (disorder) 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Pruritus ani is characterized by anal/perianal itching and/or burning.

  • Skin irritation with itch–scratch–itch cycle

  • Conservative treatment with perianal hygiene and reassurance is succes...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

START 10-DAY FREE TRIAL
Subscribe Now
GET CME/CE
Related Images
Left Arrow Button Right Arrow Button
FIGURE 28.49. Pinworm egg from urine of 11-year-old girl. One side of the long axis is always more curved than the other.
FIGURE 28.49. Pinworm egg from urine of 11-year-old girl. One side of the long axis is always more curved than the other.
FIG. 32.3. Vulval granuloma inguinale of relatively recent origin. Some lesions are separate, others confluent. The margin of lesion is raised and scrolled; the base is granular and covered imperfectly by thin, gray slough. (From Demis DJ, Crounse RG, Dobson RL, et al, eds. Clinical dermatology, Vol 3. Hagerstown, MD: Harper & Row, 1972, with permission.)
FIG. 32.3. Vulval granuloma inguinale of relatively recent origin. Some lesions are separate, others confluent. The margin of lesion is rai...
Figure 32.11. Three female worms of E. vermicularis are seen in a cellophane tape preparation.
Figure 32.11. Three female worms of E. vermicularis are seen in a cellophane tape preparation.
Pinworms - Main image shows young child scratch the anal region, an indication of pinworm (enterobius vermicularis) infestion; insert shows pinworms as seen under a microscope.
Pinworms - Main image shows young child scratch the anal region, an indication of pinworm (enterobius vermicularis) infestion; insert shows...
    ×
     
    ©2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

    Enter An Access Code

     
    We are unable to redeem your access code. Please try again another time.
    Enter the code from your copy of The 5-Minute Clinical Consult or another access code to create an account.
    ×
    ×
    This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. | Accept