Delusion of parasitosis
Keywords:
delirium, delusion of parasitosis, hallucinations, skin.Abstract
Introduction: Delusion of parasitosis is described as a non-specific psychotic condition characterized by a false and rigid belief, contrary to medical evidence, of being infested by parasites. It is generally accompanied by tactile or visual hallucinations. It is a rare disorder.Objective: To present a clinical case of delirium due to parasitosis.
Clinical case: A patient with pemphigus vulgaris is presented who began with delusional manifestations that she had "bugs" or worms in her body, as a result lesions occurred, to try to eliminate them. It is diagnosed as a delusion of parasitosis or dermatozoic parasitic delusion. Antipsychotic treatment was indicated, in addition to that for her underlying illness, and the patient progressed favorably.
Conclusions: Delirium due to parasitosis is a rare disorder and can lead to significant self-harm, as in the patient presented. The treatment of choice is with atypical antipsychotics.
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References
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21. Bernstein BE. Delusions of Parasitosis Medication. Medscape, Drugs & Diseases, Psychiatry. 2023 [acceso: 11/10/2023]. Disponible en: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1121818-medication?form=fpf
2. García Medina LC, Palomino Duarte KM, Gutiérrez Pico CM, Díaz Valenzuel M, Gallón Estrada D, Restrepo Cardenal MV. Trastornos psicocutáneos ¿de qué se trata? Ciencia Latina. 2022; 6(3):1622. DOI: 10.37811/cl_rcm.v6i3.2319
3. Fernández Hierro JL, Gómez Conde L. Evaluación psiquiátrica del paciente dermatológico. En: Rodríguez Cerdeira C (coord.). Fundamentos básicos en psicodermatología. 1ra Edición. España, Santa Comba (A Coruña): tresCtres Editores; 2010. p. 27-56.
4. Dipp Vargas C, Salguedo Siles SF, Mendoza López-Videla JN, Burgoa Seaone M. Delirio de parasitosis o síndrome de Ekbom. Rev. Méd. La Paz. 2020 [acceso: 11/10/2023]; 26(1): [aprox. 4 p.]. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.bo/scielo.php?pid=S1726-89582020000100008&script=sci_arttext
5. Lee CS. Delusions of parasitosis. Dermatol Ther. 2008; 21(1):2-7. DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2008.00163.x
6. Cruzado L, Paima R. Parasitosis delirante: Sinergia entre psiquiatría y otras especialidades. Acta Med Per. 2012 [acceso: 11/10/2023]; 29(1):35-37. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?pid=S1728-59172012000100011&script=sci_arttext
7. American Psychiatric Association. Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales DSM-5. 5ta Ed. Arlington: APA; 2014. [acceso: 05/10/2023]. Disponible en: https://www.federaciocatalanatdah.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/dsm5-manualdiagnsticoyestadisticodelostrastornosmentales-161006005112.pdf
8. Hylwa SA, Foster AA, Bury JE, Davis MD, Pittelkow MR, Bostwick JM. Delusional infestation is typically comorbid with other psychiatric diagnoses: review of 54 patients receiving psychiatric evaluation at Mayo Clinic. Psychosomatics. 2012; 53(3): 258-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.psym.2011.11.003
9. Gkini MA, Dimitrov D, Tanev T, Chan Y, Taylor R, Bewley A. Are dermatologists who treat patients with delusional infestation at risk of major complaints and being stalked? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018; 32(10): e379-81. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14962
10. Cardona Hernández MÁ, Maza de Franco A. Síndrome de Ekbom. Comunicación de un caso. Revista Cent Dermatol Pascua. 2014 [acceso: 11/10/2023]; 23(3):103-7. https://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/derma/cd-2014/cd143e.pdf
11. Healy R, Taylor R, Dhoat S, Leschynska E, Bewley AP. Management of patients with delusional parasitosis in a joint dermatology / liaison psychiatry clinic. Br J Dermatol. 2009; 161(1):197-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09183.x
12. Torales J, Arce A, Bolla L, González L, Di Martino B, Rodríguez M, et al. Delirio parasitario dermatozoico. Reporte de un caso. An. Fac. Cienc. Méd. 2011; 44(2):[aprox. 4. p]. Disponible en: http://scielo.iics.una.py/scielo.php?pid=S1816-89492011000200009&script=sci_arttext
13. Trabert W. 100 years of delusional parasitosis. Meta-analysis of 1,223 case reports. Psychopathology. 1995; 28(5):238-46. DOI: 10.1159/000284934
14. Bailey CH, Andersen LK, Lowe GC, Pittelkow MR, Bostwick JM, Davis MD. A population-based study of the incidence of delusional infestation in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1976-2010. Br J Dermatol. 2014; 170(5):1130-5. DOI: 10.1111/bjd.12848
15. Musalek M, Bach M, Passweg V, Jaeger S. The position of delusional parasitosis in psychiatric nosology and classification. Psychopathology. 1990; 23(2):115-24. DOI: 10.1159/000284647
16. Eccles JA, Garfinkel SN, Harrison NA, Ward J, Taylor RE, Bewley AP, et al. Sensations Of Skin Infestation Linked To Abnormal Frontolimbic Brain Reactivity And Differences In Self Representation. Neuropsychologia. 2015; 77:90-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.08.006
17. Ponson L, Andersson F, El-Hage W. Neural correlates of delusional infestation responding to aripiprazole monotherapy: a case report. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2015; 11: 257-261. DOI: 10.2147/NDT.S74786
18. Cipriani G, Lucetti C, Danti S, Ulivi M, Nuti A. Uncommon and/or bizarre features of dementia. Acta Neurol Belg. 2015; 115(1):19-25. DOI: 10.1007/s13760-014-0306-y
19. Serón T, Calderón P. Actualización en psicodermatología. Rev Hosp Clín Univ Chile. 2015 [acceso: 11/10/2023]; 26:42-50. Disponible en: https://www.redclinica.cl/portals/0/users/014/14/14/actualizacion_en_psicodermatologia.pdf
20. Rodríguez A, García B. Dermatitis Artefacta: A Review. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2013; 104(10):854-66. DOI: 10.1016/j.adengl.2012.10.018
21. Bernstein BE. Delusions of Parasitosis Medication. Medscape, Drugs & Diseases, Psychiatry. 2023 [acceso: 11/10/2023]. Disponible en: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1121818-medication?form=fpf
Published
2024-06-28
How to Cite
1.
Sánchez Arrastía D, Pérez Bruzón M, Diaz Sánchez N. Delusion of parasitosis. Rev Cubana Med Milit [Internet]. 2024 Jun. 28 [cited 2025 Apr. 3];53(3):e024026099. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/26099
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