Anna Ryczek, Adam Reich
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3518

Prurigo nodularis is a chronic skin condition that presents significant challenges for treatment and quality of life, with little known about disease prevalence. This study assessed the prevalence of prurigo nodularis in Poland using publicly maintained database case records and diagnostic codes for prurigo nodularis (L28.1) and other prurigo (L28.2). For the period 2016–18, the prevalence of prurigo nodularis increased from 5.82 to 6.52 cases per 100,000 population. The total prevalence of all prurigo diagnoses over the same period remained relatively stable, with a small increase from 9.04 to 9.26 cases per 100,000 population. Regional data largely followed the overall trend. In an analysis of 58 prurigo nodularis cases identified at the Department of Dermatology at the University of Rzeszów, 43.1% of patients were initially misdiagnosed by the referring physician. Thus, more than one-third of patients with prurigo nodularis may initially be misdiagnosed.

Prurigo nodularis is a chronic skin condition that causes highly pruritic, nodular lesions. Treatment of prurigo nodularis is challenging and quality of life of patients is severely impaired. Awareness of the disease among physicians is often lacking and, therefore, prevalence numbers are likely to be underestimated. This paper describes that the prevalence of prurigo nodularis in Poland increased from 5.82 to 6.52 cases per 100,000 population over the period 2016–18. Patients are often misdiagnosed initially, indicating the need to raise awareness of the disease among physicians in general.