Prevalence and characteristics of aquagenic pruritus in a young African population

BACKGROUND Aquagenic pruritus (AP) occurs during or after contact of the skin with water such as occurs in bathing. METHODS This study aims to describe the prevalence of aquagenic pruritus in a young adult population and describe the circumstances of bathing.A Population-based cross sectional study involving administration of Questionnaires to young adult Nigerians on the occurrence of pruritus associated with bathing. RESULTS The prevalence of bathing pruritus among respondents in this study was 23.8%. The commonest type of water respondents itch to was rain water (23%) followed by cold water (19%). 8.33% of respondents feels like avoiding bathing because of these. CONCLUSION Bathing pruritus is a common finding among young adult Nigerians in the general population.