ABSTRACT

Our study analyses data regarding 97 patients (56 females and 41 males; mean age: 50,1; range: 19-91) with a history of pruritus ani with a duration of at least four weeks, who presented to our ambulatory care centre for anal and rectal disease, Surgical Division II - University of Padova. All patients were investigated for surgical and dermatologic diseases. Results show that in a patient suffering from pruritus ani there is an association with surgical anorectal conditions such as haemorrhoids, fissures, and mucosal prolapse as well as dermatologic inflammatory diseases such as eczematous dermatitis and psoriasis. This association is statistically significant (p < 0.05) and confirms that the presence of itch as a symptom common to these diseases.