Causes and Treatment Modalities of Pruritis in Pregnancy.

Objectives of Study: To assess the frequency, causes and treatment modalities used for the management of pruritis in pregnancy. Study Design: Cross-sectional, observational study Setting: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Allama Iqbal Medical College and Jinnah Hospital, Lahore Study Period: One month, January 2004 Patients and methods: 75 pregnant women with pruritis were screened from a total of 826 pregnant women fulfilling the inclusion criteria of pruritis during pregnancy and interviewed through a structured questionnaire for their pruritis. The cases were diagnosed on the basis of clinical criteria. The data was tabulated, analyzed through SPSS ver11.0 to determine the frequency, causes and treatment modalities of pruritis among pregnant women presenting to OPD clinic. Results: A total of 826 ladies presented in OPD and antenatal wards during the study period. Seventy-five women gave history of pruritis in pregnancy hence the frequency of generalized pruritus in pregnant ladies was 9.07%. No cause was found in 59 patients. 5 ladies had fungal infection, 4 had scabies, and 2 had photo-dermatosis. One each had PUPPP, pruritis gravid arum, psoriasis, xerosis and eczema. Chi-square was statistically significant for skin conditions present in patients with pruritis at (P