pica and Hematologic-Diseases

Topics: Adult; Air Pollution; Animals; Anura; Calcium; Central Nervous System Diseases; Chelating Agents; Child, Preschool; Cyprinidae; Edetic Acid; Environmental Pollution; Female; Food Contamination; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hair; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Industrial Waste; Infant; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Mass Screening; Mice; Pica; Porphyrins; Rats; Saliva; United States; Vehicle Emissions; Water Pollution, Chemical; Water Supply

Topics: Adult; Central Nervous System Diseases; Chicago; Child; Child, Preschool; Edetic Acid; Environmental Exposure; Female; Fetal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gingival Diseases; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Lead; Lead Poisoning; Male; Neuromuscular Diseases; New York City; Ohio; Penicillamine; Pentetic Acid; Pica; Porphyrins; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications

Generalized or localized itch without primary skin manifestations may be the presenting symptom of serious internal diseases. Five characteristic cases of pruritus are discussed: Hodgkin's disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, polycythemia vera, iron deficiency (with pica), and uremia. Other important causes must be considered; all forms of cholestasis, including primary biliary cirrhosis, drug-induced, pregnancy-related, and extrahepatic cholestasis; other hematologic and malignant disorders such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, solid tumors, and myelodysplastic syndromes; metabolic and endocrine diseases, most notably diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and carcinoid syndrome; focal neurologic diseases such as brain tumors, cerebral infarctions and multiple sclerosis; adverse drug reactions without rash; infectious diseases, especially parasitic and HIV infections. A diagnostic laboratory screening for pruritus of undetermined origin is suggested.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Cholangitis, Sclerosing; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Hematologic Diseases; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Liver Diseases; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Pica; Polycythemia Vera; Pruritus; Uremia

Topics: Anemia; Anemia, Hypochromic; Child; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Infant; Pica; Tracheophyta