Pruritus among adult psoriatic patient attending Khartoum dermatology and venereology teaching hospital (2019-2020)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4529.IntJResDermatol20261731Keywords:
Pruritus, Psoriasis, Psoriatic arthritis, Khartoum dermatologyAbstract
Background: Pruritus is one of the most common subjective symptoms in dermatological diseases and significantly affects the quality of life of psoriasis patients. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with complex and multifactorial pathogenesis.
Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Khartoum Dermatology and Venereology Teaching Hospital from August 2019 to August 2020. Sixty adult psoriasis patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: Among the study participants, 50% were older than 40 years and 56.7% were males. Plaque psoriasis was the most common clinical type (41.8%). Pruritus was reported in 68.3% of patients, with localized pruritus observed in 60% of cases. Severe pruritus was present in 45% of patients, while weather was identified as the main aggravating factor by 46% of participants. Medications were reported as the primary relieving factor by 97.6% of patients.
Conclusions: Pruritus is highly prevalent among psoriasis patients and represents an important clinical symptom that may significantly affect patients’ quality of life. Proper evaluation and management of pruritus should be integrated into psoriasis care.
References
Jones D. English Pronouncing Dictionary. Roach P, Hartmann J, Setter J, eds. 16th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2003.
Merriam-Webster. Psoriasis. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psoriasis. Accessed on 29 May 2026.
Menter A, Gottlieb A, Feldman SR, Van Voorhees AS, Leonardi CL, Gordon KB, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: Section 1. Overview of psoriasis and guidelines of care for the treatment of psoriasis with biologics. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;58:826-50.
Boehncke WH, Schön MP. Psoriasis. Lancet. 2015;386:983-94.
Jain S. Dermatology: Illustrated Study Guide and Comprehensive Board Review. New York, NY: Springer; 2012: 83-87.
Damiani G, Cazzaniga S, Conic RZ, Fowler EM, Mariani M, Alice B, et al. Pruritus characteristics in a large Italian cohort of psoriatic patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019;33:1316-24.
Prignano F, Ricceri F, Pescitelli L, Lotti T. Itch in psoriasis: epidemiology, clinical aspects and treatment options. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2009;2:9-13.
Swain PDG, Fleming PJ, Shumack S. Severity of pruritus in psoriasis patients and associated clinical factors. Australas J Dermatol. 2017;58:e19-e23.
Ishiuji Y, Umezawa Y, Asahina A, Yanaba K, Nakagawa H. Prevalence of pruritus in patients with psoriasis and its association with quality of life. J Dermatol. 2018;45:701-4.
Yosipovitch G, Goon A, Wee J, Chan YH, Goh CL. The prevalence and clinical characteristics of pruritus among patients with extensive psoriasis. Br J Dermatol. 2000;143:969-73.
Kumar S, Kumar R, Kumar S, Kumar A, Shah MA. Prevalence of pruritus in psoriatic skin lesions and its relations to different variables. J Pak Assoc Dermatol. 2015;24:231-5.
Bushmakin AG, Cappelleri JC, Taylor SE, Mallbris L, Wallenstein GV, Joshi AV, et al. The relationship between pruritus and the clinical signs of psoriasis in patients receiving tofacitinib. J Dermatol Treat. 2015;26:15-22.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
