can't stop itching

I am a 28 year old female who is normally healthy and hardly gets a cold. 5 days ago I started getting sick with flu-like symptoms and my legs started itching. Not real bad at first, but annoying. There is no rash, just itchy. Since then, the cold seems to finally be going away today, but the itching has increased. My whole body seems to itch, especially my legs. Then today I noticed, I guess it's a rash, but purple and red spots on my legs, above the knees. The red spots are tiny and the purple ones are maybe an inch. There are quite a few. But I can't sleep at night anymore because I wake up and my whole body itches. I have tried using lotion to help and it may for an hour or so, but the itching returns. Other than being tired, the only other symptom I have, and I have no idea if it has anything to do with it, is my lower back hurts on and off. I do not know if this is something to worry about or if it is just something to do with the cold. I can not think of anything I have been around or in that would cause itching. I have not used anything new or ate anything that this could be an allergic reaction. I have never been allergic to anything. I have tried doing everything to get my mind of the itching to see if it goes away and nothing works. Any ideas? Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I really don't know.  Maybe it's part of the virus you have.  I suggest oatmeal baths, Sarna lotion, and Benadryl 25 milligram capsules at bedtime.  If you get a rash, or if the itch lasts 5 more days, you should see a doctor.  But I think the itch will resolve on its own--rapid-onset symptoms usually do.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[svanhoo1]

I also have all over itching and have had it for 10 years now.  Had allergy tests done and they were negative.  The allergist said that whatever is in your blood when you have allergies is in mine - whatever that is.  I take claritin as needed for the itching.  My itching is strange - not really hives.  An area on my skin turns red, warm to the touch, and then the itching is a burning firey itch.  I too have reddish-purple spots appearing recently all over my body.  In addition, I have small hole like sores on my ankles, top of foot, and knee.  I showed these to my dr.  Her only comment was - are you sure they aren't bug bites.  I know exactly when they appear - because it stings really bad.  My dr. did some tests for autoimmune (RA, ANA, TSH, and urine tests) and said that based on the results of these, she could rule out autoimmune diseases.  She is sending me to an dermatologist.  I also have eye inflamation (inflammation) since April and trobbing in some muscles & joints.

Shannon

[chellrowe]

My symptoms are very similar to jusshell2001 - I have no rash, just itchy all over (mainly legs, feet, hands, and arms).  I have also had lower back pain every now and then, and have been extremely tired.  I did also have a low-grade fever for a few days, as well as some light-headedness, as if I were going to faint.  I am waiting to hear back from my doctor.
I have looked online at other medical forums, and not really found any further information except that it could be a sign of some deeper medical problems.

[jusshell]

I just got back from the doctors. I think I stumped him:) Since I have posted, I have just felt like ****. This cold just won't go away... and the itching just won't stop! After about a 1/2 hour of questions, he just gave me some claritin and atarax. I have no clue what the atarax is for! He told me to try it for 2 weeks and if it doesn't help or gets worse, or I get yellow eyes or abdominal pain, to go back. He told me itching can be caused by a number of things. But I have never been allergic to anything in my life, yet sick for as long as I have been. It's been a week now. I can't stand it. I am just hoping this medicine will work. I wake up every night itching and you know oncw you start you can't stop!!!

[joylauren]

The Atarax is an anti anxiety\antihistimane.  I am on it right now for an itchy rash that I have all over.  They think it is dermititus herpetiformus, which is from gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oatmeal).  Anyways, it has worked well for me except it makes me drowsey.

[albanyguy]

I had similiar itchiness and it still continues to some degree a few weeks later. It turned out I have Mono. I'm in my mid 40's so I was a bit surprised. That could explain a lot of the symptoms and it's a cheap test relatively speaking. I do find I get some relief from hot (as hot as you can take) showers. Ironically, this is one way of relieving poison ivy problems as it releases histamines that are causing the itching. It doesn't make sense entirely but it's getting a bit better.

[Nswygert]

A related discussion, Itching was started.

[Relentless05]

A related discussion, Itch was started.