CHEMICAL CAUSES OF PAIN AND ITCH

Abstract

Pain and itch are among the commonest symptoms of disease and are most frequently caused by changes in the chemical environment which sur­ rounds the nerve terminals (I, 2). Itch can be aroused only from the outer­ most fringe of the skin (3), whereas pain can be evoked not only from the skin and mucous membranes but also from most deeper structures of the body. Both pain and itch can be best regarded as the senses of injury, and their presence is an indication that cell damage is actually taking place.