Itch historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Ogechukwu Hannah Nnabude, MD
Overview
Until recent times, sensations of itch were considered to be largely the same as those for pain. Currently, pruritus is considered to be an autonomous, pain-independent sensation. Several itch-specific neurons, mediators, spinal neurons, and cortical areas have been identified.
Etymology
Itch, also known as medically pruritus, The first documented definition of itch was given by the German physician Samuel Hafenreffer as an “unpleasant sensation that elicits the desire or reflex to scratch” about 350 years ago.[1] In recent years, pruritus has been determined to be an autonomous, pain-independent sensation. [2] Prutitus is a frequently misspelled word, often misspelled as "pruritis" [3]
Landmark Discoveries
Historically, the sensations of itch and pain have not been considered to be independent of each other until recently where it was found that itch has several features in common with pain but exhibits notable differences.[4] Pruritic stimuli mostly create the same reactions as noxious stimuli in experimental animals. As a result, it is difficult to study the physiologic mechanisms of itch in animal models as they lack the ability to discern the differences between both stimuli. Therefore human studies have provided most of the information regarding the processing of pruritic stimuli.[5]
References
- ↑ Han L, Dong X (2014). "Itch mechanisms and circuits". Annu Rev Biophys. 43: 331–55. doi:10.1146/annurev-biophys-051013-022826. PMC 4081479. PMID 24819620.
- ↑ Metz M, Grundmann S, Ständer S (2011). "Pruritus: an overview of current concepts". Vet Dermatol. 22 (2): 121–31. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00945.x. PMID 21251097.
- ↑ Fleischer AB (2016). "Increasing Incidence within PubMed of the Use of the Misspelling "Pruritis" (sic) Instead of "Pruritus" for Itch". Acta Derm Venereol. 96 (6): 826–7. doi:10.2340/00015555-2393. PMID 26934962.
- ↑ Twycross, R., Greaves, M.W., Handwerker, H., Jones, E.A., Libretto, S.E., Szepietowski, J.C., Zylicz, Z. (2003). Itch: scratching more than the surface. Q J Med, 96, 7-26.
- ↑ Ward, L., Wright E., McMahon S.B. (1996). A comparison of the effects of noxious and innocuous counter-stimuli on experimentally induced itch and pain. Pain, 64, 129-138.