The Prevalence of Pruritis among Sudanese Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by inherited and/or acquired deficiency in the production of insulin by the pancreas, or by the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced. The skin is one of the major organ systems involved in diabetes. Almost all diabetic patients eventually develop skin complications from the long-term effects of diabetes mellitus on the microcirculation and skin collagen. Objectives: This study was aimed to detect the clinicoepidemiological prevalence of pruritus in diabetic patients on Jabir Abu Eliz Diabetic Centre. Methodology: It was observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and diabetic center-based studywas conducted in the period from August to December 2014 at Jabir Abueliz Diabetes Centre (JADC), including 100 known diabetic patients (Had old and new files), from both sexes who were complaining of itching. The data were collected from patient’s records by questionnaire and analyzed by computer using SPSS. Results: The results of this study showed that diabetic patients who were complaining of pruritus represented 23.3% out of total DM population of Jabir Abueliz Diabetic Center (420) patients, 100 diabetic patient detected to suffer from pruritus where males represented 42 (42.0%), and females were 58 (58.0%). The majority 67 represented (67.0%) belonged to the age group 26-60 years, followed by 32 patients (32.0%) in the age group >60 years and only 1 patient (1.0%) in the age group 14-25 years. It was noticed that 94.0% of patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus, while 3 patients represented 3.0% had type 1, two patients (2.0%) had gestational diabetes and 1 patient (1.0%) had secondary diabetes. It was found that 92% had years duration, while 5% had a month’s duration and 3% had a duration for days. Duration of itching was months in 56%, years in 22% and days in 22%. Distribution of itching was localized in 61.0% of patients and widespread in 39% of patients. Other symptoms associated with itching were an eruption in 29.0%, dark pigmentation associated with an eruption in 10.0%, dryness, and eruption in 8.0% and dryness per se in 7.0% patients. Pruritis was common in summer 16.0%, 15 patients represented (15.0%) in winter. Aggravating factors of itching were found to be dryness 13.0%, sun exposure (9.0%) and moisture (4.0%). Relieving factors were detected in 11.0% patients, (18.0%) had lesions in lower limbs, (5.0%) in genitalia, (3.0%) in trunk, and (2.0%) in scalp, flexural areas face and neck. It was observed that 18.0% of patients had papule, vesicle, and pustule, while ten patients represented (10.0%) had papules and scales. 4 patients (4.0%) had papule and crust, 3 patients (3.0%) had scales. Conclusion: The prevalence of pruritus in diabetic patients on Jabir Abu Eliz Diabetic Centre was 23.3% (100 patients), found to be 42.0% of them were males and 58.0% were females. The clinical features of pruritus in diabetic patients in this study were an eruption, dark pigmentation, and dryness (29%), 3%, and 7%) respectively. Localized pruritus that attributed to diabetes was the most common among the study population.