Presence and characteristics of senile pruritus among Danish elderly living in nursing homes

Abstract

Aim: To explore the pattern of occurrence and characteristics of senile pruritus among elderly living in nursing homes in the Northern region of Denmark. Materials & methods: A Danish questionnaire was developed and distributed to six nursing homes from which 46 residents participated. Results: The prevalence of chronic itch was 28.9%. Evening–night and autumn–winter with an average daily itch of 30 min were reported. Itch interfered with night sleep and daily activities. Scratching was common with 61.5% accompanying scratch marks. Half of participants reported Xerosis. Cream, cold compress and cold shower were found to be the most effective remedies for itch relief. Conclusion: The present study revealed a high prevalence of chronic pruritus including cases of senile pruritus that needs further exploration for treatment or preventive strategies.