Anal pruritus

Abstract

Anal itching presents a major challenge in the proctological office. It is the most frequent accompanying symptom of different dermatological, proctological and microbiological disorders of the anal region - more often than bleeding, pain, redness and others. As in the case of other locations, therefore, anal pruritus has been divided into acute and chronic as well as into the two subtypes: secondary to underlying diseases and of unknown origin. In secondary pruritus, the main diagnosis is anal eczema, which must be differentiated into atopic, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London.