Chapter 42 VULVAR PRURITUS
Vulvar pruritus can be caused by a number of different conditions ranging from localized diseases to systemic diseases. The age of the woman is very important in the differential diagnosis. In premenopausal women, contact dermatitis, lichen simplex, and candidal vaginitis are common causes of vulvar pruritus. In postmenopausal women, common causes include atrophic vaginitis, lichen sclerosis, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, and vulvar cancer. In patients with diabetes, candidal infections are prevalent.
Medications Linked to Vulvar Pruritus
Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (can cause cholestasis)
Anabolic steroids (can cause cholestasis)
Erythromycin (can cause cholestasis)
Oral contraceptives (can cause cholestasis)
Penicillin (can cause allergic reaction)
Phenothiazines (can cause cholestasis)
Sulfa medications (can cause allergic reaction)
Topical medications/over-the-counter products:
