Itching

Anyone who has ever had a bad case of poison ivy or a crop of mosquito bites knows how annoying a persistent itch can be. The exact mechanism of itching is unknown, but the sensation seems to result when certain chemicals stimulate nerve fibers just below the outer layer of skin. Itch messages travel to the brain along the same pathways that carry pain messages, which some experts think explains why scratching relieves an itch; the mild pain of scratching displaces the itch. The relief, of course, is only temporary, and constant scratching can actually worsen itching.

WHAT CAUSES ITCHING?
Itching has a wide range of causes, including:

• Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

• Dry Skin

• Allergic reactions. These include reactions to substances such as poison ivy that come in contact with the skin and allergic reactions to ingested substances such as medications and certain foods.

• Contact dermatitis, which is any rash caused by exposure to an irritating substance. Diaper rash is a form of contact dermatitis that is a reaction to urine and feces.

• Insect bites

• Heat rashes and mild sunburns

• Fungal skin infections (such as ringworm and athlete's foot)

• Parasites such as head and body lice, scabies and pinworms (intestinal parasites that can cause intense itching)

• Skin diseases such as psoriasis

• Infectious diseases, especially chicken pox

• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), which sometimes produces hives and itching, even before jaundice (yellowing of the skin), the hallmark of the disease, appears

• Systemic diseases, including cancers, lymphoma and leukemia, kidney problems, thyroid disorders and diabetes. These are all uncommon causes of childhood itching.

DIAGNOSING ITCHING
Itching is one of the easiest symptoms to detect in a child over three months of age, which is about when babies have the hand coordination they need to scratch. Children will rub, claw and pick at itchy areas until they are raw and bleeding. In many cases, they feel the itch and begin to scratch before any rash is visible. In eczema, for example, the rash typically appears after the child scrapes away at the itchy, dry skin.

Excerpt from THE DISNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BABY & CHILD CARE, (C)1995 DSH Communications, Inc. This material is based on current medical research and, to the best of the editors' knowledge and understanding, is accurate and valid. However the reader should not use information contained in this material to alter a medically prescribed regimen or as a form of self-treatment, without seeking the advice of a licensed physician.