These notes give an overall guide to your stay in hospital. You may see some differences in the details of your treatment, since it is tailored to suit your own condition.
WHAT IS PRURITUS ANI?
Don't be put off by the name. Pruritus (proo-right-us) is simply a latin word meaning itching. Pruritus ani (A-nigh), means itching around the back passage (anus). These notes should help you understand how it happens and how to deal with it.
WHAT CAUSES PRURITUS ANI?
The main cause is waste from the back passage irritating the nearby skin. This is made worse by:
- Looseness of the bowels
- Poor control of the bowels
- Lumpy skin around the back passage
- Skin infection or eczema (eck?simmer)
- Infection in the waste
- Sweating aggravated by synthetic underwear
- Overheating
- Scratching leading to more itching and so on
- Over-enthusiastic cleansing with irritant soap
- Some trouble with the back passage such as piles
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?
The first step is to rule out any cause in the back passage using a special telescope. Once this has been done, follow this advice:
Keep clean
Wash your bottom twice a day with clean water. Do not use soap. Pat the skin dry with cotton wool. Do not use toilet paper.
Keep cool
Wear loose underwear (Boxer shorts not Y?fronts.)
Wear loose overclothes (Baggy trousers)
Wear loose nightwear
Remove excess bedding
Lose weight to lighten the buttocks
Shaving can help.
Keep dry
Dry the skin completely after washing. Use talcum powder (without additives). For one week smear Scheriproct ointment thoroughly on the skin, if the itching is bad. (It contains: Cinchocaine to numb the skin, Clemizole to kill fungi and Prednisolone to dampen down eczema).
After the first week use Zinc and Vioform ointment.
Pinch firmly any skin to control itching.
Do not scratch.
Do not use any antiseptics, TCP, soap, detergents.
THE OUTLOOK
You should be able to control the itching using the steps listed above. Pruritis can come and go for years, but you should be able to deal with it when it comes.
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