Theunis et al reported the Chronic Itch Burden Scale to evaluate a patient with chronic pruritus. This is useful at initial assessment and for monitoring while under treatment. The authors are from multiple institutions in France.
Patient selection: chronic pruritus
Items over the past 7 days:
(1) scratch self
(2) itch lasts a long time
(3) scratch until it hurts
(4) scratch makes it hard to sleep
(5) scratch interferes with daily activities
(6) itch makes it hard to focus
(7) changed clothes or bedding to reduce itching
(8) changed skincare or personal hygiene products to reduce itch
(9) have had additional expenses because of itch
(10) itching makes life difficult
(11) annoyed or in bad mood because of itching
(12) stressed because of itching
(13) lonely on account of itching
(14) angry because of itching
(15) feeling of resignation
(16) fear others think of me as dirty
(17) fear others think contagious
(18) fear others are repulsed
(19) avoid being with others
(20) ashamed of self
|
Response
|
Points
|
|
not at all
|
1
|
|
slightly
|
2
|
|
somewhat
|
3
|
|
mostly
|
4
|
|
to a great extent
|
5
|
total score =
= SUM(points for all 20 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 20
• maximum score: 100
• The higher the score the worse the quality of life.
In addition, the intensity of itch was graded on a VAS scale from 0 to 10 cm.
