Samples From Cases of Delusional Parasitosis as Seen in the UK Parasitology Reference Laboratory (2014–2015)

García-Mingo, Ana; Dawood, Nagum; Watson, Julie; Chiodini, P. L.

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofz440

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Numerous common concepts are found in our case series to the ones available in the literature: age, gender, irreducible beliefs against logical persuasion, their descriptions of the alleged pathogens, and reluctance to psychiatric management. [2,8,9,10,14]. It seems that DP has the same matching psychopathology as the core symptom, despite sociocultural differences [15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Most patients with DP bring different samples of bits of dried skin, textile fibers, hair, scabs, specks, dried blood, and occasionally living ants or flies as evidence for their alleged parasites; these should be submitted for microbiological laboratory examination. This has been referred to as the matchbox sign or the specimen sign; such specimens indicate the classical presentation, but its absence does not exclude the diagnosis of DP [10]. With persistent cleansing and disinfecting, patients with DP induce further damages to their existing skin lesions, leading to serious dermatological complications.…”

Section: Clinical Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Delusional parasitosis as a tactile hallucination handled by dermatologists

Sharquie¹,

Younis²

2022

Our Dermatol Online

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a false, unshakable belief that pathogens have infested one’s own skin or body. Objective: The objective was to record all patients with DP, a rare presentation of monosymptomatic delusion, in Iraq. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive study of 21 cases diagnosed with DP in Medical City Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, between 2013 and 2021. A detailed history and clinical examination were conducted to exclude actual organic disease. Results: All patients were females with a mean age of 65 years. They believed strongly to have pathogens in their skin or scalp, carrying containers with samples of skin debris, fibers, dead insects, hair waste, and small stones as proofs of their infestation. Careful psychiatric assessment ruled out schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and dementia, and proved the psychiatric diagnosis of monosymptomatic delusion. The patients described their symptoms as something crawling, stinging, and biting sensations. On examination, we often saw shaved scalp hair with injured skin in the form of excoriations, ulcerations, scarring, and pyogenic infections in a localized area. Conclusion: DP is a single symptom-sign complex manifestation in a person with a well-preserved personality apart from a single tactile hallucination of some sort of pathogens infesting their skin. It is commonly a disease of the scalp of elderly females that run a chronic course and rarely remits in a short time. Proper liaison between dermatologists and psychiatrists assisted by laboratory facilities is required for diagnosis and follow-up. Empathetic rapport, psychiatric referral, and early treatment by atypical anti-psychotics significantly improve such conditions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Clinical Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delusional parasitosis as a tactile hallucination handled by dermatologists

Sharquie¹,

Younis²

2022

Our Dermatol Online

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Sometimes, the morphology of the specimens can be include natural patterns, which might lead to misinterpretation by the patient or even the clinician. Expert laboratory testing of samples from individuals suspected of having DP is very important to rule out an actual parasitic infection [49].…”

Section: Clinical Aspects Of Dpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into the Medical Evaluation of Ekbom Syndrome: An Overview

Mindru,

Radu,

Bumbu

et al. 2024

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ekbom syndrome, also known as delusional parasitosis (DP) or delusional infestation, is an uncommon psychiatric disorder distinguished by an enduring conviction of parasitic infestation, persisting notwithstanding the presence of medical evidence to the contrary. Primarily affecting middle-aged women, DP can manifest either as isolated psychological distress or as a component within a more intricate psychiatric framework, substantially influencing the quality of life for affected individuals. Its pathophysiological mechanism involves uncertain dopaminergic imbalances and dysfunction in the dopamine transporter system. Dermatologists often play a pivotal role in diagnosis, as patients first seek dermatological assessments of their signs and symptoms. However, DP frequently originates from underlying psychiatric disorders or medical variables, manifesting with neurological and infectious causative factors. The diagnostic complexity is attributed to patients’ resolute convictions, leading to delayed psychiatric intervention. First-line DP treatment involves antipsychotics, with newer agents demonstrating promising prospects, but the lack of standardized protocols poses a significant therapeutic challenge. In this narrative review, both a comprehensive approach to this uncommon pathology and an update on the state of knowledge in this medical subfield focused on optimizing the management of DP are provided. The complexity of DP underlying its uncommon nature and the incomplete understanding of its pathophysiology highlight the need for further research through multicenter studies and multidisciplinary teams to enhance therapeutic efficacy and safety.

show abstract

Delusional parasitosis: An unrecognized and underdiagnosed entity?

Norman

López‐Vélez

2021

Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Samples From Cases of Delusional Parasitosis as Seen in the UK Parasitology Reference Laboratory (2014–2015)

Cited by 6 publications

References 14 publications

Delusional parasitosis as a tactile hallucination handled by dermatologists

Delusional parasitosis as a tactile hallucination handled by dermatologists

Insights into the Medical Evaluation of Ekbom Syndrome: An Overview

Delusional parasitosis: An unrecognized and underdiagnosed entity?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About