What Causes Excessive Itching All Over Body?

Posted on Tue, 10 Feb 2015

Question: Hi Doctor had protected sex almost 1 and a half months ago. After that extensive itching starts over my whole body and also at genital organs. Went to Doctor, he diagnosed as genital scabies, prescribed permethrin cream and clonate f cream alongwith some tablets. After that, there is a huge relief in itching, but suddenly few days ago, again itching starts at genital organs and other parts of body, don't know what to do ?

Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
recurrence likely.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Welcome to HCM forum.
Thanks for posting to us.

This probably indicates recurrence of infestation, and need treatment course to be repeated once.
Note that, recurrence is most commonly caused by failure to follow the treatment suggestions properly. Kindly take care the following points.
1) The cream should reach each and every part of the body except head and face. Special attention should be paid to intertrigenous areas.
2)All family members are to be treated simultaneously.
3)All clothes ,bed sheets and blankets should be washed in hot water, dried under sunlight and ironed.
Otherwise this will recur.

You can repeat the same course once; but only permethrin cream is needed. Avoid antibiotic and steroid.
For itching, take antihistamine like levocetirezine 5 mg once daily for 3 days.

If this does not solve the issue, kindly get back to your doctor for further evaluation.

Hope this will answer your query.
Be free to ask further questions if any.
Wishing you good health.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Muhammed Aslam (47 hours later)

one more thing i am feeling like sick from few days, also when i go outside my condition become worse, i was not like that before. Is this due to HIV ???

Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Kindly give few more details.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Thanks for getting back to me.

It will be fine if you can few more details in this regard.

1)For how long you are feeling sick?
2)What exactly are the symptoms(like fever, lassitude,anorexia,nausea, bladder/bowel disturbance,lymph node enlargements etc)?
3)Do you have previous unprotected exposure?

Kindly get back with details.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Muhammed Aslam (5 hours later)

1) For more than a month.
2) only fever and genital scabies.
3) No I don't have any previous unprotected exposure. I have done only one intercourse which is protected.

Answered by Dr. Muhammed Aslam (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Nothing to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
Thanks for the information.

From your description, HIV is extremely unlikely.
HIV is suspected when there is features like unexplained fever , significant weight loss, prolonged diarrhoea, multiple lymph nodes enlargement, opportunistic infections etc in an individual with high risk.
Your clinical profile is too far from this.

Anyhow, if fever is persisting for 1 month, we have to evaluate for causes like systemic infections, connective tissue disorders etc.Scabies alone is unlikely to cause fever,as this is only a superficial infestation and not infection.

In short, you need not worry about HIV.
You just keep a temperature diary.If this reveals definite fever, kindly see your doctor for evaluation.

Hope you got cleared now.
Be free to ask if you need further clarification.
Wishing you good health.
Thank you.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj