{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T16:49:52Z","timestamp":1787071792999,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]],"date-time":"2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751328000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Context:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Vulval pruritus is a chronic, debilitating symptom frequently associated with various dermatological conditions. It significantly impacts quality of life, sexual function, sleep, and psychological well-being. The etiology varies by age due to factors such as estrogen levels, skin barrier function, and environmental factors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aims:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aims to assess the vulval pruritus clinical pattern across different age groups and identify major etiological factors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Settings and Design:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional study was conducted over 18 months at a tertiary care center which included 70 adult women with vulval pruritus.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Materials and Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Data were collected through clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Statistical Analysis Used:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Statistical analysis was performed using Stata software to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and clinical characteristics.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The mean age was 42.5 years. The highest prevalence was observed in the reproductive age group (40%), followed by postmenopausal (28.6%), perimenopausal (24.3%), and menopausal (7.1%) groups. Infective causes were identified in 69% of cases, with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) (27.1%) being the most common. Noninfective causes accounted for 31% of cases, including conditions such as lichen simplex chronicus (LSC).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Infectious causes, especially VVC and candidal intertrigo, are the predominant aetiologies of vulval pruritus in women across various age groups, followed by, dermatophytosis, genital warts, herpes genitalis, and chancroid. Noninfective causes include LSC, and lichen sclerosus also play a significant role, varying by age and hormonal status. A comprehensive clinical evaluation, with an assessment of sexual history, hygiene practices, and comorbidities, is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.4103\/ijstd.ijstd_144_24","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,10]],"date-time":"2025-12-10T10:00:38Z","timestamp":1765360838000},"page":"142-147","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence and etiology of vulval pruritus among women across different age groups: A cross-sectional study in a dermatology outpatient department"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"46","author":[{"given":"Jagadish","family":"Niharikaa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R. Yogindher","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roshni","family":"Menon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr Roshni\u2019s Skin and Hair Speciality Centre, Puducherry, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brinda G.","family":"David","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"P. B.","family":"Hiremath","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"K.","family":"Manobalan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20251210","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"649402","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2021.649402","article-title":"Vulvar pruritus: A review of clinical associations, pathophysiology and therapeutic management","volume":"8","author":"Raef","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Med (Lausanne)"},{"key":"R2-20251210","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1111\/dth.12034","article-title":"Female-specific pruritus from childhood to postmenopause: Clinical features, hormonal factors, and treatment considerations","volume":"26","author":"Rimoin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Dermatol Ther"},{"key":"R4-20251210","first-page":"126","article-title":"Age of menopause and determinants of menopause age: A PAN India survey by IMS","volume":"7","author":"Ahuja","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Midlife Health"},{"key":"R5-20251210","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"523","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-021-06192-7","article-title":"Prevalence, species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Candida albicans causing vaginal discharge among symptomatic non-pregnant women of reproductive age at a tertiary care hospital, Vietnam","volume":"21","author":"Anh","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"key":"R6-20251210","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101049","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mycmed.2020.101049","article-title":"Epidemiology, risk factors and antimicrobial profile of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC): A study among women in the central region of Saudi Arabia","volume":"31","author":"Venugopal","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Mycol Med"},{"key":"R7-20251210","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"560","DOI":"10.2337\/diacare.16.4.560","article-title":"Skin surface pH in intertriginous areas in NIDDM patients. 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