Editing Itch (section)

== Classification ==
Most commonly, an itch is felt in one place. If it is felt all over the body, then it is called ''generalized itch'' or ''generalized pruritus''.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |vauthors=Molkara S, Sabourirad S, Molooghi K |title=Infectious differential diagnosis of chronic generalized pruritus without primary cutaneous lesions: a review of the literature |journal=International Journal of Dermatology |volume=59 |pages=30–36 |date=July 2019 |issue=1 |pmid=31364165 |doi=10.1111/ijd.14587 |s2cid=198998956 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Generalized itch is infrequently a symptom of a serious underlying condition, such as cholestatic liver disease.

If the sensation of itching persists for six weeks or longer, then it is called ''chronic itch'' or ''chronic pruritus''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Harrison IP, Spada F |title=Breaking the Itch-Scratch Cycle: Topical Options for the Management of Chronic Cutaneous Itch in Atopic Dermatitis |journal=Medicines |volume=6 |issue=3 |page=76 |date=July 2019 |pmid=31323753 |pmc=6789602 |doi=10.3390/medicines6030076 |doi-access=free}}</ref> ''Chronic idiopathic pruritus'' or ''Chronic Pruritus of Unknown Origin'' is a form of itch that persists for longer than six weeks, and for which [[idiopathic disease|no clear cause can be identified]].<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Erickson S, Nahmias Z, Rosman IS, Kim BS |title=Immunomodulating Agents as Antipruritics |journal=Dermatologic Clinics |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=325–334 |date=July 2018 |pmid=29929604 |doi=10.1016/j.det.2018.02.014 |s2cid=49336771}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |vauthors=Hinkle JL, Cheever KH |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yS7vDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1269 |title=Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing |date=2018-08-30 |publisher=Wolters kluwer india Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-87963-72-6 |pages=1269 |language=en |access-date=2022-07-02 |archive-date=2023-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923133951/https://books.google.com/books?id=yS7vDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1269 |url-status=live }}</ref>