Chinniah Niranthari, Gupta Monisha
MBBS, Dermatology Registrar, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW.
Aust Fam Physician. 2014 Oct;43(10):710-3.
Pruritus is the most common skin complaint in patients over the age of 65 years. These patients are in a unique population group that will require a comprehensive clinical approach. The symptoms of pruritus can be potentially debilitating and can have a significant impact on elderly patients by impairing their quality of life.
This article discusses the assessment and management of pruritus, with a specific focus on the elderly population.
Pruritus in the elderly population remains both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In the first instance, it has to be established whether the pruritus is arising from a primary dermatological condition or whether it is a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. When a rash is present it could suggest an underlying primary dermatosis. Apart from lifestyle modifications, emollients, topical antipruritics (eg menthol 1% in aqueous cream), oral antihistamines, topical corticosteroids and phototherapy may prove useful.
瘙痒是65岁以上患者最常见的皮肤问题。这些患者属于独特的人群，需要综合的临床治疗方法。瘙痒症状可能会使人衰弱，并通过损害老年患者的生活质量对其产生重大影响。
本文讨论瘙痒的评估和管理，特别关注老年人群。
老年人群的瘙痒仍然是诊断和治疗上的挑战。首先，必须确定瘙痒是由原发性皮肤病引起的，还是潜在系统性疾病的表现。出现皮疹可能提示潜在的原发性皮肤病。除了改变生活方式外，润肤剂、外用止痒药（如水杨酸乳膏中1%的薄荷醇）、口服抗组胺药、外用糖皮质激素和光疗可能会有帮助。
