As its name suggests, prurigo is the Latin word for itching, and nodularis is the Latin word for nodules. Prurigonodularis is a rare skin condition that has no known cause. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease.
Patients with Prurigonodularis typically experience severe, excruciating itching.
Signs and symptoms:
Prurigonodularis is a skin condition that is more common on the forearms, legs, and neck but can also affect other parts of the body. It is characterized by multiple nodular skin lesions that are found in groups and can range in number from a few to several hundreds.
It may start out as a tiny, red bump that itches and measures between half an inch and two centimeters in diameter. Lesions that have recently been scratched may develop crusting and scale, and they will eventually become darker and paler in comparison to the surrounding skin.
The skin in the area in between the nodules is typically dry and itchy to the point where the patient will scratch at the area for hours at a time, which can occasionally result in secondary infection.
Repeated scratching, picking, and rubbing can cause long-lasting skin changes like lichenification, nodular thickening, hyperkeratosis, hyperpigmentation (dark pigmentation), and localized skin thickening.
Even after taking medication to ease the itching, a scaly, crusted, scabbed, and unhealed lesion may still be present. This disease may last for a very long time, causing patients to experience stress and a great deal of depression.
Causes:
Autoimmunity and genetic factors appear to play a role in the onset of Prurigonodularis, although the exact cause of the condition is unknown.
Many of the patients have a personal or family history of allergic disorders like hay fever, asthma, eczema, or atopic dermatitis.
This condition is frequently accompanied by other diverse conditions like HIV infection, psoriasis, Lichen Planus, and other internal diseases like kidney failure, anemia from iron deficiency, or metabolic diseases like intolerance to protein (called gluten enteropathy).
Diagnosis:
There are several conditions that resemble Prurigonodularis, including Lichen planus, psoriasis, and occasionally eczema. Careful examination, clinical experience, and a support of biopsy report would help establish the exact diagnosis. Prurigonodularis can be clinically diagnosed by visual examination because these are large, more or less symmetrical nodules with intense itching.
Skin biopsy.
Blood tests, such as complete blood counts, liver, kidney, and thyroid function checks, can help diagnose underlying diseases that are linked to nodular prurigo.
Treatment:
Thalidomide is a medication listed in the medical books for this disease but it is not much used due to heavy side effects such as genetic birth defects. Prurigonodularis is a difficult disease to treat, and the conventional treatments include the use of cortisone, cryosurgery, and antibiotics wherever there is an infection.
Homeopathic treatment for Prurigonodularis:
The patient will need to maintain patience, but the results are good and encouraging. Homeopathy is strongly recommended.
Homeopathic Medicine:
Echinacea, mercury iodide, and gasoline.
Comments are closed.