Some historical and epistemological remarks on itch and pruritus.
Although very common, itch is very hard to describe. It can be considered as one of the most distressing physical sensations we experience. Going back historically, old Latin and Greek writers cited it in ancient papers. So, etymology is of central importance to investigation in the field of itch, regarding the formation of a word with antique origins and different meanings. Scientists, poets, and painters for centuries tried to describe and represent itch. The study of their work reveals the development of the itch's significance. Today, a clinically relevant distinction defines pruritus and itch as two different sensations. Moreover, some terms like hyperknesis, alloknesis, atmoknesis, protopathic itch, and epicritic itch are described to approaching the complexity of this sensation and are utilized in clinical practice.
Terranova
Margherita
M
Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy.
Guarneri
Claudio
C
Guarneri
Fabrizio
F
Terranova
Giuseppe
G
Lotti
Torello
T
D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009626:Terminology as Topic