Itching

“ There may be marked inflammatory exudate, causing the surface of the skin to become excessively moist and more or less itching. Redness, vesicles and pustules may characterize the inflammation. In the chronic form the skin may become thickened and greatly changed in structure. ”

“ The face and scalp are never invaded, except in infants. Itching is a marked symptom, usually worse at night. In well-advanced cases the secondary symptoms, such as papular elevations, vesicles, impetiginous and ecthymatous pustules, which are often torn by the scratching invoked, the crusts and excoriations of various characters, and a variable amount of cutaneous inflammation, with infiltration and pigmentation, taken together with the presence of burrows, constitute a clinical picture of the disease. ”

“ Swelling of the right index-finger. Itching of the genital organs. Water feels extremely cold to the hands, they feel like ice when keeping them in the water a little longer. 20. Pain at the feet which prevents one from pressing them to the ground, at 5 o’clock in the evening. Red spot, with itching at the back, and smarting pain after scratching. Violent headache as if the head were incased in iron.
Second day.—Beating at the left commissure of the lips, at 6 o’clock in the morning. Itching in the right nostril and frequent sneezing, for one hour, at half past 6 o’clock. ”

“ It may not, however, be improper to suggest means to relieve such a source of suffering as is itching, although unscientific, with the clear understanding that a cure cannot always be expected, but relief may be obtained until proper medical advice can be secured. The treatment to be given will be appropriate for itching due to any cause, with or without existing eruption on the skin, unless otherwise specified. If one remedy is unsuccessful, try others. ”

“ The pricking and itching are often exceedingly distressing. Anything leading to perspiration immediately provokes an out-burst of this almost intolerable itching— nothing more certainly than a cup of hot tea or a plate of hot soup. Long drinks, exposure to the hot sun, close rooms, warm clothing, all aggravate the distress. Sometimes the little vesicles may pustulate, doubtless from micrococcus infection. So soon as the weather becomes cool the eruption and the irritation quickly subside. ”

“ Eczema.—This is the most common of all skin affections. It is a non-contagious, inflammatory disease of the skin, sometimes acute, but more often chronic, attended with itching and desquamation or loss of cuticle. With the itching may be a feeling of heat and tension in the part.
Eczema is a local disease, brought about by a local irritation in the skin; but, in addition to this, there is generally a predisposing cause, as some disorders of the digestive tract, a bad condition of the blood, and so forth. The skin, like other organs of the body, depends on the whole system for its nutrition. ”

“ Pruritus is a functional disease of the skin, the sole symptom of which is itching, there being no structural change. [Pg 245]
Describe the symptoms of pruritus.
The sole and essential symptom is itchiness, usually more or less paroxysmal, and worse at night. There are no primary structural lesions, but in severe and persistent cases the parts become so irritated by continued scratching that secondary lesions, such as papules and slight thickening and infiltration, may result. It is much more common in advanced life—pruritus senilis. ”

“ A violent itching of the nose, foretells trouble and sorrow to those that experience it.
An itching of the lips is a sign that some one is speaking disrespectfully of you.
When you are affected by an itching on the back of your neck, be assured that either yourself or some one nearly related to you is about to suffer a violent death. ”

“ It is an antipsoric of remarkable power. Some skin symptoms developed by it persisted off and on for years, two or three of which I will mention. "Itching of the right popliteal space," this after continuing for eight or nine years disappeared. I think some Sepiaιπ I took had something to do with its disappearance. Another: "Itching with roughness of the skin, like eczema, above the left knee anteriorly." This still persists. I still have "Itching, with an eruption resembling at times herpes zoster below the left scapula." ”

“ Itch, Grandmother's Cure for.—"Sulphur and lard mixed; rub on at night, then take a good bath, using plenty of soap, every day." The above ingredients are always easily obtained and anyone suffering with this disease will find relief from the itching by using this remedy. It is very soothing.
3. Itch, Herb Ointment for.—"Mix the juice of scabious with fresh lard and apply as an ointment. A decoction made from the same herb might be taken at the same time to purify the blood. It is always well to take some blood tonic together with any outward application you may use." ”

“ It produces great heat, itching, and irritation, sometimes to such a degree as to make him feverish, sick, and fretful. He is generally worse when he is warm in bed, or when the surface of his body is suddenly exposed to the air. Rubbing the skin, too, always aggravates the itching and the tingling, and brings out a fresh crop.
The cause of nettle-rash may commonly be traced to improper feeding; although, occasionally, it proceeds from teething.
What to do.—It is a complaint of no danger, and readily gives way to a mild aperient, and to attention to diet. ”

“ Baker's itch. See under Baker. - - Barber's itch, sycosis. -- Bricklayer's itch, an eczema of the hands attended with much itching, occurring among bricklayers. -- Grocer's itch, an itching eruption, being a variety of eczema, produced by the sugar mite (Tyrogluphus sacchari) . -- Itch insect (Zoöl.) , a small parasitic mite (Sarcoptes scabei) which burrows and breeds beneath the human skin, thus causing the disease known as the itch. See Illust. in Append. -- Itch mite. (Zoöl.) Same as Itch insect, above. Also, other similar mites affecting the lower animals, as the horse and ox. ”

“ The itching is particularly distressing at night. When the little sufferer is well covered, the [pg 563] warmth occasioned by the bed-clothes causes these little parasites to crawl out upon the anus, and produces such paroxysms of itching and pain as to cause the child to kick the covering oft and lie naked. The persistent manifestations of a disposition to lie naked, should excite the parents' suspicions of seat-worms, and lead them to investigate all the symptoms. By examining the child's stools the worms may he found adhering to the feces, and they may also be seen on the anus. ”

“ The skin symptoms were temporary redness, burning, and itching that occurred after 2 to 3 hr of work; they disappeared overnight or over the weekend. Itching of the eyes or the nose, hoarseness, and burning in the mouth were the other symptoms recorded. Twenty-nine of the 38 received standard skin-patch tests, and 11 were found with one or more reactions. Twenty-five workers were further skin-patch tested with 17 paper substances and with the paper. Eight workers were tested with the paper components plus the paper, but no reactions were observed. ”

“ The penetration and presence of the parasites within the cutaneous structures besides often giving rise to several or more complete or imperfectly formed burrows, excite varying degrees of irritation, and in consequence the formation of vesicles, papules and pustules, accompanied with more or less intense itching. Secondarily, crusting, and at times a mild or severe grade of dermatitis, may be brought about. ”

“ It is characterized by great tickling and itching. We find tickling and pricking in the urethra, in left ear; on tip of nose; at soft palate as from something cold; in symphysis pubis; as from a brush against epiglottis (with hoarseness) ; pain in right leg and at os illium; itching on vertex and occiput; of eyelids; in left ear; on cheek bones; itching and tickling stitches on left corner of mouth and upper lip; in rectum; at anus after evacuation of bowels; on left side of chest, principally on nipple ”

“ Symptoms.—There is intense itching at the anus, increased by warmth, and contact of the buttocks. The itching grows worse after the patient becomes warm in bed. It may spread and extend to the scrotum, down the limbs and sometimes over the lower back. ”

“ The symptom is a violent itching in the tongue and roof of the mouth, which invariably takes place when you are in company with a species of animals called ‘Gossips.’ When you feel a fit of the disorder coming on, take a teaspoonful of the mixture, hold it in your mouth, which you will keep closely shut till you get home, and you will find a complete cure. ”

“ Mange as applied to animals is the same as itch in human beings, being beyond question caused by a parasite burrowing into the skin, resulting in the falling out of the hair, and sometimes in an exudation of an offensive-smelling pus, itching to such a degree that the patient scratches continuously. ”

“ It attacks different parts of the body, but chiefly the feet, betwixt the toe-nails and the flesh. There it buries itself, and at first causes an itching not unpleasant. In a day or so, after examining the part, you perceive a place about the size of a pea, somewhat discoloured, rather of a blue appearance. Sometimes it happens that the itching is so trivial, you are not aware that the miner is at work. ”

“ There may or may not be itching. In what appears to be a variety of this disease, known usually as acne urticata, there is considerable itching just at the time the lesion is appearing. The malady is not frequent, but occurs in both sexes, usually in those between the ages of twenty and fifty. It seems probable that the eruption is parasitic in origin. ”

“ In different stages of the fever, after a few days, a cutaneous efflorescence is perceivable, from which the disease takes its name, preceded by and accompanied with itching and pricking heat of the skin, and eruption of diminutive{97} pustules, the size of millet seed, and, by the fingers, may be felt prominent: they are rarely seen on the face; commonly on the neck, back, breast, and extremities ”

“ About twenty-four hours later the part begins to itch again, and in a few minutes a hard, rounded, deep-red papule appears, and is quickly surrounded by an area of œdematous skin. The formication is intense, and in the affected area, while the ordinary sensations of touch are dulled, those of temperature and painful feelings are exaggerated. In two or three hours the itching diminishes and the œdema disappears, leaving a small, red papule, which itches but little. ”

“ Besides these glimpses of the future, you may know something of your fate by a diligent attention to every itching that you may feel in your body. Thus, if the eye or the nose itches, it is a sign you will be shortly vexed; if the foot itches, you will tread upon strange ground ”

“ Symptoms: local congestion, swelling, itching, desquamation, during extreme heat: in worst cases fever, dullness, inappetence, costiveness, diarrhœa, head constantly moving, rubbing, vesicles, pustules, excoriations, cracks, fissures, septic ulcers in nose and mouth, submaxillary and pharyngeal swellings, recovery with dermal thickening and tenderness. Diagnosed from petechial fever by the itching, and the absence of petechiæ. Prevention: breed solid dark colors, avoid white skinned in hot climates or work in shade, away from hot winds; sunshade; avoid friction and wetting in sunshine. ”

“ Dermatitis herpetiformis is a somewhat rare inflammatory disease, characterized by an eruption of an erythematous, papular, vesicular, pustular, bullous or mixed type, with a decided disposition toward grouping, accompanied by itching and burning sensations, with, as a rule, more or less consequent pigmentation, and pursuing usually a chronic course with remissions. ”

“ The delay in development of symptoms is often confusing in attempting to determine the time or location when contamination occurred. The itching sensation and subsequent inflammation, which usually develops into water blisters under the skin, may continue for several days from a single contamination. Persistence of symptoms over a long period is likely to be due to new contacts with plants or with previously contaminated clothing or animals. ”

“ Itching, or a feeling of burning, slight or intense, is usually present.
What is the course of the eruption?
The vesicles show no disposition to rupture, but dry up in a few days or a week, disappearing by absorption and with slight subsequent desquamation; the papular lesions gradually fade away, and the affection, if the exciting cause has ceased to act, terminates.
What is the cause of miliaria?
Excessive heat. Debilitated individuals, especially children, are more prone to an attack. Being too warmly clad is often causative.
What is the nature of the disease? ”

“ Symptoms: skin thickens with papules, vesicles or pustules, scurf, crusts, depilation, surface glossy, abraded, scratched, raw, rough, fœtid, itching, emaciation, exhaustion. Chronic eczema of the back. Fat, old, gluttons. Symptoms: circumscribed patches on back, loins, quarters, tail, intense itching, skin thickened, cracked, raw, encrusted, black, folded, rigid, fœtid, hair broken, erect, shedding. Very inveterate. Chronic eczema of elbow and hock. Causes: friction on summits of prominent bones, filth, infection, predisposition. ”

“ In some instances the lesions barely reach vesiculation, being rather papulo-vesicular, while in others blebs may appear at the beginning in the place of vesicles. The subjective symptoms of itching and burning are either lacking or are not marked. Malaise or slight febrile action may usher in the disease, or, as is usually the case, constitutional disturbance is not observed. The affection is comparatively rare. ”