Prurient an is the term commonly used to indicate an itching or irritation in the anal canal or on the per-anal skin. This symptom or irritation is classified as a definite pathological condition occurring in this region.

Prurient an is practically the chronic form of a dermatitis, only differing from the acute in the change of color in the skin which becomes blanched or of a pure white appearance. The skin also becomes hypertrophied and brittle as a result of the deficient vascular supply and from the long continued inflammation or irritation. This changes the skin so that it may be easily torn or cracked by the finger nails of the sufferer in an attempt to relieve the itching. In the acute stage the skin of the per-anal region is reddened, irritated and swollen. The inflammation may extend so far forward as the pubis or backward over the gluten region.

Etiology. Eczema an is one of the disorders giving rise to this symptom and is usually the first manifestation of the disease. In my experience prurient an is in the majority of cases secondary to some discharge from the colon or rectum or to a reflected constitutional disorder, as gout, rheumatism, tuberculosis, syphilis, diabetes, or it manifests itself in the form of a local skin disease. It may be due to a protracted catarrh inflammation, to an ulceration of the rectum or fissure in anew in which there is a discharge of mucus or pus, which causes a constant moisture of the surrounding skin and excites a dermatitis in those predisposed.

Prurient an may be associated with a weak or disturbed digestive tract as the result of improper feeding manifesting itself in the form of a mucous colitis or a proctorial The mucus discharged in these diseases gives rise to the inflammation. A slight degree of moisture imperceptible to the sufferer in many instances is sufficient to initiate the itching or irritation of the parts.

Ring worm (trichinosis) is not an uncommon cause of prurient an and when suspected is best proven by the aid of the microscope.

Among children intestinal parasites are included in the list of frequent causes of prurient lanais, due to the pin worm. (voyeurism vermiculite), pedicurist, lice and scabies. There are innumerable instances where the expulsion of intestinal worms, such as the round-worm (Iscariot-lumbricoidcs) and the tape-worm (Tania), have been followed by the disappearance of symptoms which could be accounted for in no other way than by their presence. The marked tendency of the laity to dwell upon the importance of worms as causative factors of many childhood ailments has often led the physician to take the other extreme, in which he denies that symptoms of prurient are due to their presence in the intestinal canal. It is certain that the highly sensitive nervous system of the child is susceptible to some other influences not as potent. The positive diagnosis must be made by seeing the parasite, in part, or its egg, when such symptoms exist which lead one to suspect that they inhabit the bowel. Parasites in the intestinal canal may excite a catarrh inflammation, accompanied with the discharge of an irritating mucus.

Prurient is also described under names intended to designate the region or location, as prurient locals, prurient pundit Maris, and prurient universals; to the use of drugs as prurient op ii Prurient may accompany nephritis, as the result of uremic intoxication, diabetes or jaundice. These diseases represent more or less systemic disturbance resulting in irritation of the peripheral nerve ends, and can hardly be confused with a local condition in the intestinal canal. Commonly at the age of sixty, there is a more or less localized itching termed prurient sensualist which tends to become more distressing as age advances. There is no visible lesion or eruption, but the skin is slightly thickened and rough sometimes. The skin may become pigmented from scratching. The disease is not ordinarily confined to the anal region. These causes suffice to point out that the itching may be only the local manifestation of a general disease reflexes in the anal region, and emphasize the importance of a thorough consideration of the patient's condition. Prurient an is often left uncured as a consequence of not recognizing the underlying cause.

Symptoms. Itching is the chief and almost the only symptom. In the acute form the itching is more continuous than in the protracted chronic form which designates and classifies the disease as prurient an In the chronic form the itching is more or less intermittent in its duration which comes on after the bowels have moved or if the patient becomes warm in bed. which may be so distressing as to cause insomnia.

Treatment. The discovery and removal of the cause is of the first importance. When prurient an is associated with constipation, the condition should be relieved by the regular administration of a saline each morning or cascara given every night, and immediately after the bowels have moved to ensure the complete evacuation of the rectum, an injection of a few ounces of a twenty per cent. witch-hazel solution should be given, or a similar preparation. When the dermatitis is acute the parts should be bathed with warm wet cloths before retiring at night. After the surface has been dried any soothing ointment may be applied until the next cleansing. The following combination, according to different authorities, have proved satisfactory in the chronic forms to relieve the itching.

Before washing the parts the remains of the previously applied ointment should be removed with olive oil.

Ring worm can be relieved with a few applications of sulfurous acid or Wilkinson's ointment, which is as follows;

Apply to excoriated parts.   Continue to: prev: Chapter XVII. Fecal Impaction And Obstipation Table of Contents next: Pruritis Ani. Continued       Search My Books Discover Answers FAQ [ Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | About Us | Search ] © 2007-2021 StasoSphere.com