(Pruritus scroti): What causes scrotal itching?

Scrotal itching (Pruritus scroti) is symptom most persons dread beacuse of its embarrassing nature. But what causes scrotal itching?

Read from this patient that have be suffering from scrotal itch for 2 years. He wants permanent solution…

Hello docs.

I have been suffering from itchy balls for 2 years now. I have tried self – medication, herbal and hospital treatment but to no avail.

The last time I visited the hospital. Let’s say a month ago or so, the doctor told me it’s difficult to treat the scrotal itch, which is the testicular sac or the balls bag/house. And he told me I have to continue fighting it hard that the itching does not go away just like that. And he put me on daily injection and drugs medication hoping for improvement, but no.

Injection every morning and evening with some drugs, I almost ran away on half way because I hate injections. But my passion to end this menace for once was so high that I continued with the injection. There where no space in my butt because all over were holes of injections and pains which lasted for months. That is when I knew that some hands are more painful with injection than others.

Although I didn’t have any improvements at the time of hospital medication but I just try to complete it. i Finally complete the treatment a month ago and the condition still remain the same.

There is nothing on my scrotal but only just itching, it now has some bad smell like never before. But there is nothing there actually just plain.

The medication tried are below

Regular bathing

Izal (I stop bathing with the izal because it give body odor)
Dettol liquid and dettol soap (doing nothing except to burning the scrotal, no solution at all)

Penicillin cream (good relief but no permanent cure)
Aquasulf cream ( doing nothing at all)
Vista plus cream (doing nothing at all)
Nizoral cream ( expensive but doing nothing at all)
Skineal cream ( doing nothing at all)
Alo vera cream ( doing nothing at all)

Piritin tablet ( relief but no permanent cure and side effect of not sleeping in the night)
Celozol tablet (doing nothing at all)
Ofloxacin tablet (doing nothing at all)

And some other few not mentioned.

All I need is a permanent cure, some one in here who is a doctor should help.

Thank you.

This was culled from a thread created by a Nairalander. I have commented on the thread and told him the possible causes of the scrotal itching and urgent need to see a QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTOR. I decided to also use the opportunity to educate this blog readers who might also be having similar symptoms.

Without judging him, it is obvious that this person has not seen a medical doctor and is probably patronizing quacks but this article is not here to discuss that.

Now what causes scrotal itching?

The causes of scrotal itching are many and knowing these diseases helps greatly in the definite treatment. The causes are:

• Scabies (which the guy above probably have)
• Poor hygiene
• Excessive sweating in the scrotum
• Genital warts
• Gonorrhoea
• Pubic lice/crabs
• Chlamydia
• Genital herpes
• Jock itch (fungal infection) – Tinea cruris
• Chafing/scrotal irritation
• Contact dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Leukemias
• Lichen planus
• Testicular cancer
• Skin cancer
• Drug reactions
• Trichomoniasis
• Seborrhoeic dermatitis

These are the differential diagnosis of scrotal itching.

Apart from itching, persons with scrotal problems may also experience the following symptoms on the scrotum

• burning sensation
• Pain
• redness
• dry, scaly, or leathery scrotal skin
• swelling of the scrotum
• redness or discoloration
• skin that oozes fluid and develops blisters filled with clear fluid
• broken hairs on the scrotal sac

Treatment

I will not discuss treatment here. However, it is important you see a doctor for proper evaluation, tests and definitive treatment.