Puritis Ani
Dr. Weyrich's Naturopathic Proctology Notebook
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Overview
Puritis ani is a condition involving itchiness of the anal area. There are many possible causes, so there are likewise many different treatments. In many cases, scratching may exacerbate the symptoms and lead to thickening of the skin in the affected area.Signs and Symptoms
Itching, and occasional burning, of the skin around the rectum. Examination may reveal excoriations, hyperemia, and lichenification.Etiology
- Dysbiosis.
- Diarrhea.
- Hemorrhoid.
- Anal fistula.
- Anal fissure.
- Fecal incontinence (leakage).
- Fungal skin infection (rare).
- Parasites such as pinworms.
- Lice.
- Psoriasis.
- Skin tags.
- Abrasion of frequent or vigorous cleaning.
- Excess moisture.
- Occlusive clothing.
- Irritating laundry products.
- Foods: spices, hot sauce, tomato, dairy, chocolate, beverages.
- Systematic disorders: diabetes type I or type II, jaundice, lymphoma, uremia, HIV, etc.
Diagnosis
Anal exam and anoscopy.Treatment
Find and treat the cause.Symptomatic relief:
- Corticosteroids (topical or systemic).
- Local anesthetics (lidocaine, etc.).
- Local analgesics (camphor, menthol, etc).
- Emollients (glycerin, petroleum jelly, etc).
- Astringents (witch hazel, etc).
Prevention
Practice good anal hygiene:- Gentle cleaning with damp wipe (baby wipe or Tucks).
- Keep area dry by wearing cotton undergarments and consider placing a small roll of cotton or tissue between butt-cheeks.
- Do not scratch or wipe vigorously.
ICD-9 Codes
| ICD9-Code | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 698.0 | Puritis ani |
References
Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:[FDM] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.
[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
[Shacket2009] www.hemorrhoid.net/puritisani.php
[Wikipedia2009] en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pruritus_ani
Copyright © 2007-2010 Dr. Weyrich (Naturopathic Medical license number 07-1008). The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This web page is http://www.DrWeyrich.com/disorders/puritis_ani.html - Phone Dr. Weyrich at (480) 423-6952