Causes of isolated itching
| Cause | Comment |
|---|---|
| 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 |