Definition

Noun: * Persistent itching of the external female genitalia: A medical condition characterized by a chronic, often intense, itching sensation affecting the vulva.

Usage

• This term is a specific medical term. It is used in clinical, healthcare, and formal contexts to describe a symptom, not a disease itself. The itching can be a symptom of various underlying conditions.
• It is typically used by healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses) or in medical literature. Patients may learn this term from a diagnosis.

Examples

• The patient's primary complaint was pruritus vulvae, which had been disturbing her sleep for weeks.
• Several dermatological conditions can present with pruritus vulvae as a chief symptom.
• Effective treatment for pruritus vulvae depends on accurately diagnosing its cause.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often part of a differential diagnosis, as in: "The differential for her pruritus vulvae includes lichen sclerosus, candidiasis, and contact dermatitis."

Variants and Related Words

• Pruritus (noun): The medical term for itching of the skin. is a specific type of pruritus.
• Vulvodynia (noun): Chronic pain or discomfort of the vulva, which is a related but distinct condition from itching ().

Synonyms

• Vulvar itching: A more common, non-technical way to describe the same symptom.

Different Meanings

• This term has only one specific meaning in medical English. It does not have general or figurative uses.

Noun

1. persistent itching of the external female genitalia