Evaluation and management of pruritus and scabies in the elderly population

Clinics in Geriatric Medicine

Volumn 29, Issue 2, 2013, Pages 479-499

  Panuganti, Bharat ^a   Tarbox, Michelle ^a  

^a SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

Author keywords

Elderly; Neurogenic pruritus; Pharmacologic treatments of pruritus; Phototherapy; Pruritus; Systemic etiology underlying pruritus

Indexed keywords

ANTIHISTAMINIC AGENT; BETA ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR BLOCKING AGENT; CAPSAICIN; CORTICOSTEROID; CYCLOSPORIN; DOXEPIN; FUROSEMIDE; HYDROXYMETHYLGLUTARYL COENZYME A REDUCTASE INHIBITOR; IVERMECTIN; LINDANE; NALTREXONE; NARCOTIC ANALGESIC AGENT; OMEGA 3 FATTY ACID; PERMETHRIN; SIMVASTATIN; STATIN (PROTEIN); STEROID; THALIDOMIDE; TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANT AGENT; TRIMIPRAMINE;

ANOREXIA; APPLICATION SITE BURNING; APPLICATION SITE REACTION; ARTHRALGIA; ASTHENIA; ATOPIC DERMATITIS; BURNING SENSATION; CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION; CHOLESTATIC PRURITUS; COGNITIVE THERAPY; COMORBIDITY; DERMATOMYOSITIS; DISEASE ASSOCIATION; DRUG ERUPTION; DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY; DRUG RESPONSE; ENDOCRINE DISEASE; GERIATRIC CARE; GROOMING; HEADACHE; HUMAN; LABORATORY TEST; LUPUS LIKE SYNDROME; MANAGED CARE; MEDICAL HISTORY; MENTAL DISEASE; MYALGIA; NEURODERMATITIS; NEUROLOGIC DISEASE; PATHOPHYSIOLOGY; PATIENT ASSESSMENT; PERSONAL HYGIENE; PHOTOTHERAPY; PHYSICAL EXAMINATION; PRURITUS; REVIEW; SCABIES; SKIN EXAMINATION; SKIN PRURITUS; TREATMENT OUTCOME; URTICARIA;

ADULT; AGED; AGED, 80 AND OVER; AGING; ANTIPARASITIC AGENTS; ANTIPRURITICS; COMORBIDITY; DIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIAL; GERIATRICS; HUMANS; PRURITUS; SCABIES;

EID: 84876319821     PISSN: 07490690     EISSN: 18798853     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2013.01.009     Document Type: Review

References (101)

1. Norman R.A., Henderson J.N. Aging: an overview. Dermatol Ther 2003, 16(3):181-185.
2. Beauregard S., Gilchrest B.A. A survey of skin problems and skin care regimens in the elderly. Arch Dermatol 1987, 123(12):1638-1643.
3. Patel T., Yosipovitch G. Therapy of pruritus. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2010, 11(10):1673-1682.
4. Ikoma A., Steinhoff M., Ständer S., et al. The neurobiology of itch. Nat Rev Neurosci 2006, 7(7):535-547.
5. Stander S., Weisshaar E., Luger T.A. Neurophysiological and neurochemical basis of modern pruritus treatment. Exp Dermatol 2008, 17(3):161-169.
6. Berger T.G., Steinhoff M. Pruritus in elderly patients-eruptions of senescence. Semin Cutan Med Surg 2011, 30(2):113-117.
7. Bianchi J., Cameron J. Assessment of skin integrity in the elderly 1. Br J Community Nurs 2008, 13(3):S26. S28, S30-2.
8. Norman R.A. Xerosis and pruritus in the elderly: recognition and management. Dermatol Ther 2003, 16(3):254-259.
9. Pseudomonas dermatitis/folliculitis associated with pools and hot tubs-Colorado and Maine, 1999-2000. Can Commun Dis Rep 2001, 27(3):24-28.
10. Boccanfuso S.M., Cosmet L., Volpe A.R., et al. Skin xerosis. Clinical report on the effect of a moisturizing soap bar. Cutis 1978, 21(5):703-707.
11. Simpson E., Böhling A., Bielfeldt S., et al. Improvement of skin barrier function in atopic dermatitis patients with a new moisturizer containing a ceramide precursor. J Dermatolog Treat 2012, 24(2):122-125.
12. Proksch E. Hautarzt 1995, 46(2):76-80. [in German].
13. Tivoli Y.A., Rubenstein R.M. Pruritus: an updated look at an old problem. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2009, 2(7):30-36.
14. Summey B.T., Yosipovitch G. Pharmacologic advances in the systemic treatment of itch. Dermatol Ther 2005, 18(4):328-332.
15. Yosipovitch G. Chronic pruritus: a paraneoplastic sign. Dermatol Ther 2010, 23(6):590-596.
16. Robinson-Bostom L., DiGiovanna J.J. Cutaneous manifestations of end-stage renal disease. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000, 43(6):975-986. [quiz: 987-90].
17. McHutchison J.G., Bacon B.R. Chronic hepatitis C: an age wave of disease burden. Am J Manag Care 2005, 11(Suppl 10):S286-S295. [quiz: S307-11].
18. Cacoub P., Bourlière M., Lübbe J., et al. Dermatological side effects of hepatitis C and its treatment: patient management in the era of direct-acting antivirals. J Hepatol 2012, 56(2):455-463.
19. Kremer A.E., Oude Elferink R.P., Beuers U. Hautarzt 2012, 63(7):532-538. [in German].
20. Cohen K.R., Frank J., Salbu R.L., et al. Pruritus in the elderly: clinical approaches to the improvement of quality of life. P T 2012, 37(4):227-239.
21. Kluger N., Raison-Peyron N., Rigole H., et al. Generalized pruritus revealing hereditary haemochromatosis. Acta Derm Venereol 2007, 87(3):277.
22. Sliti N., Benmously R., Fenniche S., et al. Tunis Med 2011, 89(4):347-349. [in French].
23. Carr T.F., Saltoun C.A. Chapter 21: urticaria and angioedema. Allergy Asthma Proc 2012, 33(Suppl 1):S70-S72.
24. Kimyai-Asadi A., Nousari H.C., Kimyai-Asadi T., et al. Poststroke pruritus. Stroke 1999, 30(3):692-693.
25. Cohen O.S., Chapman J., Lee H., et al. Pruritus in familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a common symptom associated with central nervous system pathology. J Neurol 2011, 258(1):89-95.
26. Laihinen A. Assessment of psychiatric and psychosocial factors disposing to chronic outcome of dermatoses. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 1991, 156:46-48.
27. Krishnan A., Koo J. Psyche, opioids, and itch: therapeutic consequences. Dermatol Ther 2005, 18(4):314-322.
28. Koblenzer C.S. Cutaneous manifestations of psychiatric disease that commonly present to the dermatologist-diagnosis and treatment. Int J Psychiatry Med 1992, 22(1):47-63.
29. Kuritzky A., Mazeh D., Levi A. Headache in schizophrenic patients: a controlled study. Cephalalgia 1999, 19(8):725-727.
30. Greenberger P.A. Chapter 30: drug allergy. Allergy Asthma Proc 2012, 33(Suppl 1):S103-S107.
31. Khandpur S., Verma P. Bullous pemphigoid. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2011, 77(4):450-455.
32. Kasteler J.S., Callen J.P. Scalp involvement in dermatomyositis. Often overlooked or misdiagnosed. JAMA 1994, 272(24):1939-1941.
33. Oaklander A.L. Common neuropathic itch syndromes. Acta Derm Venereol 2012, 92(2):118-125.
34. Poppe H., Poppe L.M., Bröcker E.B., et al. Do-it-yourself cement work: the main cause of severe irritant contact dermatitis requiring hospitalization. Contact Dermatitis 2012, 68(2):111-115.
35. Maguire H.C., Kaidbey K. Experimental photoallergic contact dermatitis: a mouse model. J Invest Dermatol 1982, 79(3):147-152.
36. Handa S., Depankar D., Mahajan R. Airborne contact dermatitis-current perspectives in etiopathogenesis and management. Indian J Dermatol 2011, 56(6):700-706.
37. Santos R., Goossens A. An update on airborne contact dermatitis: 2001-2006. Contact Dermatitis 2007, 57(6):353-360.
38. Pearce J.M. Meralgia paraesthetica (Bernhardt-Roth syndrome). J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2006, 77(1):84.
39. Ivins G.K. Meralgia paresthetica, the elusive diagnosis: clinical experience with 14 adult patients. Ann Surg 2000, 232(2):281-286.
40. Perez-Perez L.C. General features and treatment of notalgia paresthetica. Skinmed 2011, 9(6):353-358. [quiz: 359].
41. Yosipovitch G., Samuel L.S. Neuropathic and psychogenic itch. Dermatol Ther 2008, 21(1):32-41.
42. Ward J.R., Bernhard J.D. Willan's itch and other causes of pruritus in the elderly. Int J Dermatol 2005, 44(4):267-273.
43. Savin J.A. Diseases of the skin. The management of pruritus. Br Med J 1973, 4(5895):779-780.
44. Patel T., Yosipovitch G. The management of chronic pruritus in the elderly. Skin Therapy Lett 2010, 15(8):5-9.
45. Ricci G., Patrizi A., Bellini F., et al. Use of textiles in atopic dermatitis: care of atopic dermatitis. Curr Probl Dermatol 2006, 33:127-143.
46. Rathi S.K., D'Souza P. Rational and ethical use of topical corticosteroids based on safety and efficacy. Indian J Dermatol 2012, 57(4):251-259.
47. du Vivier A., Stoughton R.B. Tachyphylaxis to the action of topically applied corticosteroids. Arch Dermatol 1975, 111(5):581-583.
48. Saraswat A. Contact allergy to topical corticosteroids and sunscreens. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2012, 78(5):552-559.
49. Schnopp C. Topical steroids under wet-wrap dressings in atopic dermatitis-a vehicle-controlled trial. Dermatology 2002, 204(1):56-59.
50. Watson C.P., Evans R.J., Watt V.R. Post-herpetic neuralgia and topical capsaicin. Pain 1988, 33(3):333-340.
51. Stander S., Luger T., Metze D. Treatment of prurigo nodularis with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001, 44(3):471-478.
52. Goodless D.R., Eaglstein W.H. Brachioradial pruritus: treatment with topical capsaicin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1993, 29(5 Pt 1):783-784.
53. Siepmann D., Luger T.A., Stander S. Antipruritic effect of cyclosporine microemulsion in prurigo nodularis: results of a case series. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2008, 6(11):941-946.
54. Sekine R. Anti pruritic effects of topical crotamiton, capsaicin, and a corticosteroid on pruritogen-induced scratching behavior. Exp Dermatol 2012, 21(3):201-204.
55. Yosipovitch G., Maibach H.I., Rowbotham M.C. Effect of EMLA pre-treatment on capsaicin-induced burning and hyperalgesia. Acta Derm Venereol 1999, 79(2):118-121.
56. Reiter M. Statin therapy has no significant effect on skin tissue cholesterol: results from a prospective randomized trial. Clin Chem 2005, 51(1):252-254.
57. Ramsing D. Effect of systemic treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs on the skin barrier function in humans. Acta Derm Venereol 1995, 75(3):198-201.
58. Brazzelli V. Effects of systemic treatment with statins on skin barrier function and stratum corneum water-holding capacity. Dermatology 1996, 192(3):214-216.
59. Neukam K. Supplementation of flaxseed oil diminishes skin sensitivity and improves skin barrier function and condition. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2011, 24(2):67-74.
60. Stoebner P.E. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2003, 130(2 Pt 1):187-190. [in French].
61. Rumble R.H., Morgan K. Longitudinal trends in prescribing for elderly patients: two surveys four years apart. Br J Gen Pract 1994, 44(389):571-575.
62. Alim N., Patel J.Y. Rapid oral desensitization to furosemide. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2009, 103(6):538.
63. White-Chu E.F., Reddy M. Dry skin in the elderly: complexities of a common problem. Clin Dermatol 2011, 29(1):37-42.
64. Upadhayai J.B., Nangia A.K., Mukhija R.D., et al. Cutaneous reactions due to antihypertensive drugs. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2006, 51(3):189-191.
65. Thestrup-Pedersen K. Adverse reactions in the skin from anti-hypertensive drugs. Dan Med Bull 1987, 34(Suppl 1):3-5.
66. Chitturi S., Farrell G.C. Drug-induced cholestasis. Semin Gastrointest Dis 2001, 12(2):113-124.
67. Terg R. Efficacy and safety of oral naltrexone treatment for pruritus of cholestasis, a crossover, double blind, placebo-controlled study. J Hepatol 2002, 37(6):717-722.
68. Di Leo E. Cyclosporin-A efficacy in chronic idiopathic urticaria. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2011, 24(1):195-200.
69. Dehesa L. The use of cyclosporine in dermatology. J Drugs Dermatol 2012, 11(8):979-987.
70. Teofoli P. Antipruritic effect of oral cyclosporin A in essential senile pruritus. Acta Derm Venereol 1998, 78(3):232.
71. Ereshefsky L., Riesenman C., Lam Y.W. Antidepressant drug interactions and the cytochrome P450 system. The role of cytochrome P450 2D6. Clin Pharmacokinet 1995, 29(Suppl 1):10-18. [discussion: 18-9].
72. Gupta M.A., Guptat A.K. The use of antidepressant drugs in dermatology. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2001, 15(6):512-518.
73. Pour-Reza-Gholi F. Low-dose doxepin for treatment of pruritus in patients on hemodialysis. Iran J Kidney Dis 2007, 1(1):34-37.
74. Drake L.A., Fallon J.D., Sober A. Relief of pruritus in patients with atopic dermatitis after treatment with topical doxepin cream. The Doxepin Study Group. J Am Acad Dermatol 1994, 31(4):613-616.
75. Savin J.A. Effects of trimeprazine and trimipramine on nocturnal scratching in patients with atopic eczema. Arch Dermatol 1979, 115(3):313-315.
76. Goncalves F. Thalidomide for the control of severe paraneoplastic pruritus associated with Hodgkin's disease. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2010, 27(7):486-487.
77. Chen M., Doherty S.D., Hsu S. Innovative uses of thalidomide. Dermatol Clin 2010, 28(3):577-586.
78. Wu J.J. Thalidomide: dermatological indications, mechanisms of action and side-effects. Br J Dermatol 2005, 153(2):254-273.
79. Gupta S., Singh M.M., Prabhu S., et al. Allergic contact dermatitis with exfoliation secondary to calamine/diphenhydramine lotion in a 9 year old girl. J Clin Diagn Res 2007, 1(3):147-150.
80. Cassano N. Chronic pruritus in the absence of specific skin disease: an update on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy. Am J Clin Dermatol 2010, 11(6):399-411.
81. Seckin D., Demircay Z., Akin O. Generalized pruritus treated with narrowband UVB. Int J Dermatol 2007, 46(4):367-370.
82. Rivard J., Lim H.W. Ultraviolet phototherapy for pruritus. Dermatol Ther 2005, 18(4):344-354.
83. Zhang H. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of pruritus. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2012, 78(5):532-544.
84. Scheinfeld N. Controlling scabies in institutional settings: a review of medications, treatment models, and implementation. Am J Clin Dermatol 2004, 5(1):31-37.
85. Walton S.F., Currie B.J. Problems in diagnosing scabies, a global disease in human and animal populations. Clin Microbiol Rev 2007, 20(2):268-279.
86. Luk J.H.K., Chan H.H.L., Yeung N.S.L., et al. Scabies in the elderly: a revisit. Hong Kong Pract 2002, 24:426-434.
87. Alexander J.O. Arthropods and human skin 1984, Springer-Verlag, Berlin; New York, p. 422.
88. Burkhart C.G., Burkhart C.N., Burkhart K.M. An epidemiologic and therapeutic reassessment of scabies. Cutis 2000, 65(4):233-240.
89. Murthy A. Rash of a different kind. Am J Med 2012, 125(4):353-355.
90. Hengge U.R. Scabies: a ubiquitous neglected skin disease. Lancet Infect Dis 2006, 6(12):769-779.
91. Feldmeier H. Diagnosis of parasitic diseases. Evidence- Based Dermatology 2010, PMPH-USA, Oak Park, IL. 2nd edition. H. Maibach, F. Gorouhi (Eds.).
92. Falk E.S., Eide T.J. Histologic and clinical findings in human scabies. Int J Dermatol 1981, 20(9):600-605.
93. Wu M., Hu S., Hsu C. Use of non- contact dermatoscopy in the diagnosis of scabies. Dermatol Sinica 2008, 26(2):112-114.
94. Walter B. Comparison of dermoscopy, skin scraping, and the adhesive tape test for the diagnosis of scabies in a resource-poor setting. Arch Dermatol 2011, 147(4):468-473.
95. Palicka P. Laboratory diagnosis of scabies. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol 1980, 24(1):63-70.
96. Meinking T.L. The treatment of scabies with ivermectin. N Engl J Med 1995, 333(1):26-30.
97. Dourmishev A.L., Dourmishev L.A., Schwartz R.A. Ivermectin: pharmacology and application in dermatology. Int J Dermatol 2005, 44(12):981-988.
98. Chhaiya S.B. Comparative efficacy and safety of topical permethrin, topical ivermectin, and oral ivermectin in patients of uncomplicated scabies. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2012, 78(5):605-610.
99. Currie B.J. First documentation of in vivo and in vitro ivermectin resistance in Sarcoptes scabiei. Clin Infect Dis 2004, 39(1):e8-12.
100. Walton S.F., Myerscough M.R., Currie B.J. Studies in vitro on the relative efficacy of current acaricides for Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2000, 94(1):92-96.
101. Fischer K. Scabies: important clinical consequences explained by new molecular studies. Adv Parasitol 2012, 79:339-373.