Generalized pruritus as a presenting symptom in Nigeria

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Tropical Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Generalized pruritus without apparent skin disease affects a significant number of patients.
• Identifying the underlying causes of pruritus is crucial for effective management and public health.
• Previous studies have not fully elucidated the spectrum of causes for pruritus in specific populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and etiological spectrum of generalized pruritus among dermatologic patients.
• To identify common causes of pruritus in the absence of visible skin lesions.
• To highlight specific contributing factors such as bathing practices and environmental influences.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 4000 consecutive dermatologic patients at Lagos University Teaching Hospital Skin Clinic.
• Inclusion criteria: patients presenting with generalized pruritus and no obvious dermatologic disease.
• Data collection focused on patient history, clinical examination findings, and identified etiological factors.

Main Results:

• 268 patients (6.7%) presented with generalized pruritus without obvious skin diseases.
• Filariasis was identified as the cause in 57% of these cases.
• Bath-related pruritus (21%), heat intolerance (6%), systemic diseases (3.7%), and miscellaneous causes (9.7%) were also identified. Causes remained undetermined in 2.6%.

Conclusions:

• Filariasis is a major etiological factor for generalized pruritus in this Nigerian cohort.
• Bathing practices and environmental factors like heat intolerance contribute significantly to pruritus.
• Further research into the specific mechanisms of filariasis-induced pruritus and public health interventions are warranted.