Pediatric pruritus

What is pediatric pruritus?

Pruritus is a nagging, uncomfortable feeling that makes a child want to scratch their skin. Depending on the cause of the itchiness, the skin may appear normal – or it may be red, rough or have bumps. When a child repeatedly scratches their itchy skin, the skin may become thickened, raised or infected, or bleed.

Oftentimes, the more itchy the skin is, the more a child scratches it. And the more irritated skin is scratched, the itchier it continues to get. Therefore, the itch-scratch cycle can be difficult to break – especially in young children who don’t understand or can’t control their scratching.

What are the causes of pediatric pruritus?

The causes of pruritus are varied, and can include:

• Allergic reactions to a range of substances, including wool, soaps, poison ivy, cosmetics or certain foods

• Anemia 

• Chicken pox

• Dry skin (xerosis)

• Eczema

• Hives (skin rash caused by a reaction to certain foods, medicine or other irritants)

• Kidney failure

• Leukemia (cancer that affects the blood cells)

• Lice

• Liver disease

• Lymphoma (cancer that affects the lymph nodes and vessels that carry lymph fluid throughout the body)

• Multiple sclerosis (disorder in which the immune system breaks down the protective covering of the nerves)

• Psoriasis (skin condition that causes the buildup of excess cells on the surface of the skin)

• Reactions to some drugs, such as antibiotics, antifungal medicines or narcotic pain medications

• Scabies (highly contagious skin condition caused by a tiny insect)

• Shingles (painful skin condition that causes blisters)

• Thyroid cancer

• Type 2 diabetes

How is pediatric pruritus treated?

Dry, itchy skin can occur in any area of the body.

Signs and symptoms of pruritus can include:

• Bumps, spots or blisters on the skin

• Dry, cracked skin

• Redness

• Skin that is leathery or scaly in texture