Senile itch | Occurs without an obvious cause in more than 50% of those aged >70 years and is thought to be linked to drying of the skin with age1 |
Cholestasis | Common symptom in jaundiced patients |
Uraemia | Associated with chronic renal failure and affects about 25% of those on haemodialysis. It may be limited to the site of a haemodialysis shunt. |
Solid tumours | Specific tumours are associated with localised itching— |
| • Scrotal itch with prostate cancer |
| • Itchy nostrils with brain tumours |
| • Vulval itch with cervical cancer |
| Itch may also complicate chemotherapy |
Blood disorders | Itch is frequently associated with disorders such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukaemia, myeloma, and polycythaemia. It may also occur with iron deficiency anaemia |
HIV | Itch is sometimes the first symptom of HIV related disease |