Chronic pruritus – from etiology to treatment

Abstract

Pruritus is an unpleasant sensation of the skin that causes the desire to scratch; it is a very disabling symptom that negatively affects the quality of life. Chronic pruritus is defined when symptoms last more than 6 weeks. It is estimated that pruritus affects about 60% of the population aged 65 years or over. In this article, the authors review the pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic pruritus.