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What Causes Acute Itching Throughout The Body?

Posted on Thu, 12 Jan 2017

Question: I have been having itiching all over my body for the last 5 days. It is all over from my head to toes. Sometimes on my hands, feet, legs, face, top of head. I am not sure what it is. Have not eaten or change my soap or anything new for the last couple of weeks. I wake up feeling ok then it gets worst as the days moves on. I feels like a prick to the skin. I don't have to itch it back. It happens a fews times each minute.

My medical history is I am 6'0, 250lbs. The only med I take is a prilosec daily for acid reflux. I had a spinal tumor removed in 2014 at T9-11. I just did an MRI with contrast last week fridays. 7 days ago. The MRI is stable and the tumor is gone. I have a full blood test that was normal in oct except for liver alt was 72. A CT-scan on the adomend was normal except a fatty liver.

I am not what this is, any help would be great.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

The 5 day history, indicates an acute cause for the itching. Head to toe examination is required to look for possible scabies. Pruritic rah with linear burrows with confirmation by light microscopy. The skin needs to be examined for typical wheal like lesions associated with urticaria.

Liver and renal function tests should be done. In the meanwhile, antihistamines like cetirizine or hydroxyzine can be advised in combination with topical calamine lotion for symptomatic relief.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

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Dr. M.S. Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (14 hours later)

I have tried almost all the antihistamines OTC and none works. It really feels like pins and needle pricking me all over my body. No scabies since I don't have any rash and no red spots. Can this be a problem with nerves?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

It's unlikely to be a neurological cause as the pruritus is generalised. In a focal neurological cause there would have been involvement of a specific region.

Get the metabolic panel done as the ALT was slightly high. Liver and renal dysfunction can present as such and needs to be ruled out. Deworming with albendazole would also be a good idea to see for improvement.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee