The medical term for itching is pruritus, an unpleasant feeling in the skin that creates the urge to scratch. When something itches, clinicians describe it as pruritic, so an itchy rash becomes a pruritic rash.
Pruritus is said proo-RYE-tus and comes from the Latin verb for to itch. Itching ranks high among the complaints that bring patients to a dermatologist, and it also shows up on medicine side effect lists and in notes about liver, kidney and allergy problems. This page covers the spelling trap, the main kinds of pruritus, and how to read it in a chart.
At a glance
Medical term
PruritusAdjective
PruriticLatin origin
Prurire, to itchCommon misspelling
Pruritis, which is incorrectOpposite or treatment word
Antipruritic, something that relieves itchSpecialty
Dermatology, allergy, internal medicine
Spelling and meaning of the medical term for itching
The correct spelling is pruritus, ending in us. Many people write pruritis, which looks like it ends in the suffix itis for inflammation, but itching is a symptom, not an inflammation, so the itis ending is wrong. Spell checkers in charting systems often catch this, and instructors mark it on exams.
Pruritus describes a sensation, not a visible finding. A person can have intense itching with normal looking skin, or a rash that does not itch at all. That is why notes often pair the symptom with what the skin shows, such as pruritic papules or pruritus without rash.
Kinds of pruritus by location and cause
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Localized pruritus | Itching in one area, such as the scalp or lower legs |
| Generalized pruritus | Itching over much of the body |
| Pruritus ani | Itching around the anus |
| Pruritus vulvae | Itching of the vulva |
| Uremic pruritus | Itching linked to advanced kidney disease |
| Cholestatic pruritus | Itching linked to slowed bile flow from the liver |
Dry skin is the most common cause, especially in older adults and in winter. Other causes include eczema, allergic reactions and hives, insect bites, some medicines, and conditions inside the body, which is why long lasting itching may lead to blood tests.
Pruritus on a clinic chart
Clinic visit line: "Generalized pruritus x 2 weeks, no rash; check LFTs." This reads as itching all over for two weeks without visible skin changes. The clinician ordered LFTs, liver function tests, to look for a liver cause.
Another common line is "pruritic maculopapular rash on trunk after starting amoxicillin," which describes an itchy rash of flat and raised spots that began after a new antibiotic. That kind of note may lead to an allergy entry in the chart, which changes what appears under NKDA. In kidney care you may read about uremic pruritus in people with CKD.
Charting pruritus as a student
When a patient says they itch, ask where, how long, whether it is worse at night, and what eases or aggravates it. Record the answers along with what the skin looks like. Avoid writing itchy in the assessment section; use pruritus or pruritic. More everyday words matched with their clinical names live in the medical terminology guide.
Itching has a long list of possible causes. If it lasts, spreads or keeps you up at night, a doctor, nurse practitioner or dermatologist can help find out why.
Frequently asked questions
What is the medical term for itching?
Pruritus is the medical term for itching. Something that itches is described as pruritic.
Is it pruritus or pruritis?
The correct spelling is pruritus. Pruritis is a common error caused by confusing the ending with the itis suffix for inflammation.
How do you say pruritus?
It is pronounced proo-RYE-tus, with the stress on the middle syllable.
What is a pruritic rash?
A pruritic rash is simply an itchy rash. The word pruritic describes the symptom, not the type of rash.
What does antipruritic mean?
Antipruritic means relieving or preventing itch. It can describe a medicine, a cream or another treatment.