Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure

Bedbugs are blood-feeding nocturnal ectoparasites, which are well-adapted to human habitats. In recent decades, bedbug infestation has been an emerging health problem worldwide, affecting all socio-economic population strata. The clinical presentations of bedbug exposure are variable, ranging from s...

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Main Authors: Ian B. Weitzel, Valeria Palma, Macarena Silva, Alex Castro, Thomas Weitzel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225002152
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author Ian B. Weitzel
Valeria Palma
Macarena Silva
Alex Castro
Thomas Weitzel
author_facet Ian B. Weitzel
Valeria Palma
Macarena Silva
Alex Castro
Thomas Weitzel
author_sort Ian B. Weitzel
collection DOAJ
description Bedbugs are blood-feeding nocturnal ectoparasites, which are well-adapted to human habitats. In recent decades, bedbug infestation has been an emerging health problem worldwide, affecting all socio-economic population strata. The clinical presentations of bedbug exposure are variable, ranging from simple pruriginous bite lesions to severe cutaneous and systemic manifestations. Diagnosis is challenging and depends on awareness, clinical experience, and a thorough medical history. In our case, cutaneous lesions were accompanied by severe systemic symptoms and hypereosinophilia, leading to prolonged illness and hospitalization. The differential diagnosis of such presentations should include bedbug exposure, to avoid long-lasting disease, unnecessary diagnostic procedures, and the associated psychological burden for the patient.
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publishDate 2025-10-01
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series International Journal of Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-4cfc08699f694152b6a4167d83fbf8c52025-08-20T04:01:48ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122025-10-0115910799110.1016/j.ijid.2025.107991Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposureIan B. Weitzel0Valeria Palma1Macarena Silva2Alex Castro3Thomas Weitzel4Laboratorio Clínico, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, ChileUnidad de Inmunología y Alergias, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, ChileServicio de Infectología, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, ChileServicio de Anatomía Patológica, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, ChileLaboratorio Clínico, Clínica Alemana, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile; Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina (ICIM), Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile; Institute of International Health, Charité Center for Global Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Corresponding author: Thomas Weitzel, Laboratorio Clínico, Clínica Alemana, Vitacura 5951, Santiago, Chile.Bedbugs are blood-feeding nocturnal ectoparasites, which are well-adapted to human habitats. In recent decades, bedbug infestation has been an emerging health problem worldwide, affecting all socio-economic population strata. The clinical presentations of bedbug exposure are variable, ranging from simple pruriginous bite lesions to severe cutaneous and systemic manifestations. Diagnosis is challenging and depends on awareness, clinical experience, and a thorough medical history. In our case, cutaneous lesions were accompanied by severe systemic symptoms and hypereosinophilia, leading to prolonged illness and hospitalization. The differential diagnosis of such presentations should include bedbug exposure, to avoid long-lasting disease, unnecessary diagnostic procedures, and the associated psychological burden for the patient.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225002152Parasitic diseasesEctoparasitic infestationInsect bitesCimexSerum sickness-like reaction
spellingShingle Ian B. Weitzel
Valeria Palma
Macarena Silva
Alex Castro
Thomas Weitzel
Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Parasitic diseases
Ectoparasitic infestation
Insect bites
Cimex
Serum sickness-like reaction
title Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure
title_full Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure
title_fullStr Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure
title_full_unstemmed Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure
title_short Systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria-like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure
title_sort systemic illness with eosinophilia and urticaria like rash caused by prolonged bedbug exposure
topic Parasitic diseases
Ectoparasitic infestation
Insect bites
Cimex
Serum sickness-like reaction
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225002152
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AT macarenasilva systemicillnesswitheosinophiliaandurticarialikerashcausedbyprolongedbedbugexposure
AT alexcastro systemicillnesswitheosinophiliaandurticarialikerashcausedbyprolongedbedbugexposure
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