pruritus ani
- noun
- /ˌpruːrɪˈtaɪtəs ˈɑːnaɪ/
- Specialized
- The patient complained of persistent pruritus ani that disrupted his sleep.
Examples
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Hygiene and avoiding irritants are important in managing pruritus ani.
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Certain infections and allergies can be underlying causes of pruritus ani.
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He suffers from pruritus ani after eating spicy food.
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The doctor diagnosed her with pruritus ani last week.
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The doctor diagnosed her with pruritus ani, which caused significant discomfort due to irritation.
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Hygiene and avoiding irritants are crucial steps in treating pruritus ani effectively.
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Certain infections and allergies can lead to pruritus ani, making it important to identify the cause.
How Itchy
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
pruritus + ani
The term literally combines 'pruritus' (itching) with the Latin/genitive form 'ani' (of the anus), so the meaning 'itching of the skin around the anus' is directly derivable from the constituents. It is a technical Latin medical phrasing—so while compositionally transparent to someone who knows both parts, the specialized/Latin form may be unfamiliar to general B1 learners.
Etymology
Pruritus ani comes from two Latin words: pruritus meaning 'itch' and ani meaning 'anus'. So it literally means an 'itch' around the anus, and doctors use it for long-lasting anal itching.