Pruritus in palliative medicine patients

Anna Zasowska-Nowak; Aleksandra Cialkowska-Rysz

eISSN: 2081-2833
ISSN: 2081-0016

Medycyna Paliatywna/Palliative Medicine

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4/2013
vol. 5

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abstract:

Review paper

Pruritus in palliative medicine patients

Anna Zasowska-Nowak

,

Aleksandra Cialkowska-Rysz

Medycyna Paliatywna 2013; 5(4): 139–147

Online publish date: 2014/01/31

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Pruritus is one of the organism’s defensive reflexes, a warning of harmful action of external factors. Treatment of this disturbing symptom in the course of chronic diseases still remains a great therapeutic challenge, although much research have been carried out and many theories have been worked out on the field of pathophysiology of itch. In palliative patients pruritus is not as frequent as other unpleasant symptoms, such as pain or dyspnoea, nevertheless they can significantly worsen the quality of life because of their nuisance and limited therapeutic tools against them. Coincidence of many independent factors responsible for provoking the pruritus (cancer, chronic diseases, metabolic disorders, improper skin care, treatment applied, skin diseases, external factors) is the main reason for difficulties in overcoming persistent pruritus. Individual and multidirectional approach to the patient seems to be necessary in every single case of pruritus.

keywords:

Pruritus in palliative medicine patients

Anna Zasowska-Nowak , Aleksandra Cialkowska-Rysz

generalized pruritus, cancer pruritus, pruritus treatment

Anna Zasowska-Nowak

,

Aleksandra Cialkowska-Rysz