Stop the Itch Campaign

Guest Post by Heaven Thompson, Intern

National Itch Day takes place on June 3. This day is a representation of the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) advocacy for greater awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP). This year will mark the 4th annual Stop the Itch campaign encouraging kidney patients to learn more about CKD-aP.

CKD-aP is itching that can be moderate or severe and is directly linked to kidney disease. The condition is often times overlooked by individuals, and is typically found in patients suffering from end-stage kidney disease, or ESKD, according to AAKP. “It is believed to affect approximately 30-70% of kidney patients and has been associated with poor quality of life, poor sleep, and depression. It is often described by patients as ‘an itch you just can’t get to’”.

Individuals with CKD-aP are at higher risk of skin inflammation and certain infections as a result of the patient’s constant skin scratching. This act done to satisfy the itch can ultimately lead to damaged skin or lesions.

Many patients that suffer from CKD-aP wonder if it will ever go away. This varies from individual-to-individual as some patients with advanced kidney disease alongside those on hemodialysis claim that the itch halts periodically and is not always the same severity. However, others have reported that the itch is constant. It seems that the itch only completely goes away for kidney patients who have been transplanted.

“Nearly 70% of in-center dialysis patients that self-identified as having moderate to severe itching had never heard of CKD-aP. Nearly 50% of respondents shared that their itch impacts their daily lives and activities, and nearly 30% reported it impacts their mental health. Nearly 40% of respondents that experience moderate to severe itching have never discussed it with their doctor and nearly 50% of patient respondents shared that their healthcare team has never discussed itching with them.” Therefore, the AAKP provides several educational resources including a downloadable Pocket Guide to Managing Chronic Kidney Disease.