Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case report
Introduction: Delusional infestation is a rare psychiatric disorder defined as a condition in which the patient has the unshakable belief and perception of being infested with parasites. Its treatment is difficult, and frequently includes antipsychotic medications (such as olanzapine or aripiprazol...
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Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Case Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/62754 |
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| author | Mario Javier Olivera Julián Felipe Porras Villamil Gabriela Andrea López Moreno Christian Camilo Toquica Gahona Hugo Paez Ardila Eliana Maldonado Lara |
| author_facet | Mario Javier Olivera Julián Felipe Porras Villamil Gabriela Andrea López Moreno Christian Camilo Toquica Gahona Hugo Paez Ardila Eliana Maldonado Lara |
| author_sort | Mario Javier Olivera |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: Delusional infestation is a rare psychiatric disorder defined as a condition in which the patient has the unshakable belief and perception of being infested with parasites. Its treatment is difficult, and frequently includes antipsychotic medications (such as olanzapine or aripiprazole). Non-pharmacological treatment, particularly psychotherapy, can be used for less severe cases. Dermatologists and psychiatrists must take a multi-disciplinary approach (preferably in a psycodermatology dedicated clinic) since this type of patients sometimes refuse treatment.
Case description: A 53-year-old female businesswoman describes a clinical history of five years of visual hallucinations, depressive symptoms, and generalized pruritus, along with the use of toxic substances to “clean” her skin and cloths. She reports similar symptoms in some relatives but they were not evaluated. Blood tests and analyses of the “specimen” brought by the patient were performed, yielding negative results. The patient had never been assessed by any specialist, and showed disoriented during the consultation. Follow-up was not possible due to the reluctance of the patient to follow the indications and seek psychiatric treatment. Moreover, the patient did not respond to further communication attempts.
Discussion: Delusional infestation is an uncommon disease that endangers the patients and the people around them. Its treatment is difficult and long, and not conducting proper follow-up is a great risk. Its prevalence and incidence is variable and generally unknown. It can affect the patient, their next of kin, pets or the environment, and the “pathogen” can be a living organism or an inanimate object.
Conclusion: This case is important as it shows the hardships of treatment, adequate follow-up and care, as well as the need to improve how these patients are approached. Additionally, both classical and uncommon signs and symptoms could be observed as the patient stated that her relatives were affected (possible delusional infestation by proxy).
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e66693fbd9ea426aa9cea2f5c1583a6e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2462-8522 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Universidad Nacional de Colombia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e66693fbd9ea426aa9cea2f5c1583a6e2025-08-20T02:05:27ZengUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaCase Reports2462-85222017-07-013210.15446/cr.v3n2.6275447170Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case reportMario Javier Olivera0Julián Felipe Porras Villamil1Gabriela Andrea López Moreno2Christian Camilo Toquica Gahona3Hugo Paez Ardila4Eliana Maldonado Lara5Instituto Nacional de SaludUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaUniversidad del Rosario, Bogotá- ColombiaUniversidad del Rosario Introduction: Delusional infestation is a rare psychiatric disorder defined as a condition in which the patient has the unshakable belief and perception of being infested with parasites. Its treatment is difficult, and frequently includes antipsychotic medications (such as olanzapine or aripiprazole). Non-pharmacological treatment, particularly psychotherapy, can be used for less severe cases. Dermatologists and psychiatrists must take a multi-disciplinary approach (preferably in a psycodermatology dedicated clinic) since this type of patients sometimes refuse treatment. Case description: A 53-year-old female businesswoman describes a clinical history of five years of visual hallucinations, depressive symptoms, and generalized pruritus, along with the use of toxic substances to “clean” her skin and cloths. She reports similar symptoms in some relatives but they were not evaluated. Blood tests and analyses of the “specimen” brought by the patient were performed, yielding negative results. The patient had never been assessed by any specialist, and showed disoriented during the consultation. Follow-up was not possible due to the reluctance of the patient to follow the indications and seek psychiatric treatment. Moreover, the patient did not respond to further communication attempts. Discussion: Delusional infestation is an uncommon disease that endangers the patients and the people around them. Its treatment is difficult and long, and not conducting proper follow-up is a great risk. Its prevalence and incidence is variable and generally unknown. It can affect the patient, their next of kin, pets or the environment, and the “pathogen” can be a living organism or an inanimate object. Conclusion: This case is important as it shows the hardships of treatment, adequate follow-up and care, as well as the need to improve how these patients are approached. Additionally, both classical and uncommon signs and symptoms could be observed as the patient stated that her relatives were affected (possible delusional infestation by proxy). https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/62754Case ReportDelusional parasitosisEkbom delusory parasitosisDelusory parasitosis. |
| spellingShingle | Mario Javier Olivera Julián Felipe Porras Villamil Gabriela Andrea López Moreno Christian Camilo Toquica Gahona Hugo Paez Ardila Eliana Maldonado Lara Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case report Case Reports Case Report Delusional parasitosis Ekbom delusory parasitosis Delusory parasitosis. |
| title | Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case report |
| title_full | Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case report |
| title_fullStr | Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case report |
| title_short | Delusional infestation. Ekbom´s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman. Case report |
| title_sort | delusional infestation ekbom´s syndrome in a 47 year old woman case report |
| topic | Case Report Delusional parasitosis Ekbom delusory parasitosis Delusory parasitosis. |
| url | https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/care/article/view/62754 |
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