Pruritus is a common presenting diagnosis associated with a myriad of localized and systemic conditions. Due to many underlying causes, it can be challenging for the provider to assess. Symptoms often persist, causing frustration for the patient and provider, as well as distress and impaired quality of life for the patient. When evaluating patients with neurodermatitis or pruritus in the absence of primary skin lesions, a full workup assessing for medication-induced disease and underlying systemic conditions is warranted. Treatment of the underlying cause, if found, is always recommended. For all patients, interventions such as moisturizing, avoidance of irritating agents, avoidance of heat, and stress reduction should be considered. Further management of symptoms can include topical, systemic agents or non-pharmacologic therapies such as phototherapy, transcutaneous and transcranial nerve stimulation, acupuncture, and psychosomatic therapy. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, evaluation, and management of the patient with neurodermatitis. It will also provide a discussion of traditional and emerging therapies to help formulate diagnostic and treatment paradigms for these patients.
An 8-day-old female infant presented with a mass on the lower back that had been present since birth. The patient was well appearing, alert, and active. Physical examination revealed a 6×5-cm, erythematous, ill-defined, indurated plaque on the lower thoracic back. There was no associated family history of similar findings. According to the mother, the patient was feeding well with no recent fever, irritability, or lethargy. The patient was born via elective induction of labor at term due to maternal intrauterine infection from chorioamnionitis. The birth was complicated by shoulder dystocia with an Erb palsy, and she was hospitalized for 5 days after delivery for management of hypotension and ABO isoimmunization and to rule out sepsis; blood cultures were negative for neonatal infection. WHAT'S THE DIAGNOSIS? a. bacterial cellulitis b. cutis marmorata c. infantile hemangioma d. sclerema neonatorum e. subcutaneous fat necrosis
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.