Pruritus Ani is a condition in which the anus area of an individual is sore or itchy in such a manner as to be painful or distracting. This can be due to any number of conditions and is generally treated by diagnosing the reason and treating both the reason as well as the itching and burning sensations that are associated with Pruritus Ani. Pruritus Ani is not considered a diagnosis, but rather a category of different symptoms that stem from a different diagnosis.
Pruritus Ani Symptoms
Pruritus Ani is considered the condition in which another illness or problem has created a secondary set of symptoms. Such illnesses can do this by irritating the skin and anal of the individual through their disease progress, leading to an itchy and some times burning sensation. This sensation can be extremely painful and can be increased by the type of clothing that one wears and the level of relative humidity in the region. Pruritus Ani is not an illness in itself, but rather simply a set of symptoms that can point to an illness or that are due to the clothing itself.
Pruritus Ani Causes
There are many causes of Pruritus Ani. As Pruritus Ani is only a symptomatic condition and is not an illness, there is no one condition that causes the symptoms. Any number of infections can cause the itchy and burning sensation in the anal region that is Pruritus Ani. Other reasons for the pain and itchy sensations can include frequent liquid fecal matter, diarrhea, or moisture not being properly removed from the area. There are also skin conditions that can cause these symptoms such as dry skin or psoriasis. Foods can also cause these conditions such as spicy foods or foods that one may be allergic too in a very mild form.
Prevention from Pruritus Ani
Because of the number of different ways that one can develop the symptoms known as Pruritus Ani, there is no good way to prevent the condition. The most commonly recommended methods of prevention include ensuring the area is well cleaned and dried after bowel movements to reduce the chances of irritation. Other suggestions fro Pruritus Ani prevention include not partaking in spicy foods and avoiding foods that are known to cause indigestion in one's self. Other ideas include ensuring that one washes the area frequently to avoid infection and uses an antibacterial soap in the region during these washings. Soaps that contain some light lotions can help to prevent the skin becoming overly dry which can cause these symptoms as well.
Pruritus Ani Treatment Advice
Treating the condition of Pruritus Ani is a matter of treating the symptoms and the cause. Treating the cause means finding why one has the symptoms. This could be anything from improperly washing and drying the region to wearing the wrong clothing to a major yeast infection. No matter what the cause, one should enlist the assistance of a doctor to determine the cause of the symptoms. Once the cause is treated the symptoms of Pruritus Ani are managed by topical creams that are used to sooth the skin and reduce any irritation of the region.
