U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Delusional Parasitosis

MedGen UID:
772482
•Concept ID:
C3658283
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonyms: Delusion, Dermatozoic; Delusion, Ekbom Dermatozoic; Delusional Parasitoses; Delusional Parasitoses, Ekbom; Delusional Parasitosis, Ekbom; Delusions, Dermatozoic; Delusions, Ekbom Dermatozoic; Delusory Parasitoses; Delusory Parasitoses, Ekbom; Delusory Parasitosis; Delusory Parasitosis, Ekbom; Dermatozoic Delusion; Dermatozoic Delusion, Ekbom; Dermatozoic Delusions; Dermatozoic Delusions, Ekbom; Ekbom Delusional Parasitoses; Ekbom Delusional Parasitosis; Ekbom Delusory Parasitoses; Ekbom Delusory Parasitosis; Ekbom Dermatozoic Delusion; Ekbom Dermatozoic Delusions; Ekbom Psychogenic Parasitoses; Ekbom Psychogenic Parasitosis; Parasitoses, Delusional; Parasitoses, Delusory; Parasitoses, Ekbom Delusional; Parasitoses, Ekbom Delusory; Parasitoses, Ekbom Psychogenic; Parasitoses, Psychogenic; Parasitosis, Delusional; Parasitosis, Delusory; Parasitosis, Ekbom Delusional; Parasitosis, Ekbom Delusory; Parasitosis, Ekbom Psychogenic; Parasitosis, Psychogenic; Psychogenic Parasitoses; Psychogenic Parasitoses, Ekbom; Psychogenic Parasitosis; Psychogenic Parasitosis, Ekbom

Definition

A delusional disorder of belief in infestation by insects or other parasites. This FORMICATION is typically accompanied by dermatological manifestation such as PRURITUS that may lead to self-mutilation in order to remove the perceived parasites. It can be either primary or secondary to a somatic or psychiatric condition. [from MeSH]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVDelusional Parasitosis

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Delusional infestation: Clinical presentations, diagnosis, and management.
Torales J, García O, Barrios I, O'Higgins M, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Ventriglio A, Jafferany M
J Cosmet Dermatol 2020 Dec;19(12):3183-3188. Epub 2020 Oct 24 doi: 10.1111/jocd.13786. PMID: 33098221
Diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis.
Campbell EH, Elston DM, Hawthorne JD, Beckert DR
J Am Acad Dermatol 2019 May;80(5):1428-1434. Epub 2018 Dec 11 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.012. PMID: 30543832
Delusional Parasitosis: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Mumcuoglu KY, Leibovici V, Reuveni I, Bonne O
Isr Med Assoc J 2018 Jul;20(7):456-460. PMID: 30109800

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Drug-induced Delusional Infestation.
Kemperman PMJH, Bruijn TVM, Vulink NCC, Mulder MMC
Acta Derm Venereol 2022 Mar 8;102:adv00663. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v102.183. PMID: 35170743Free PMC Article
Current Understanding and Approach to Delusional Infestation.
Moriarty N, Alam M, Kalus A, O'Connor K
Am J Med 2019 Dec;132(12):1401-1409. Epub 2019 Jul 8 doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.06.017. PMID: 31295443
Delusional parasitosis: a new pathway for diagnosis and treatment.
Lepping P, Freudenmann RW
Clin Exp Dermatol 2008 Mar;33(2):113-7. Epub 2008 Jan 16 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2007.02635.x. PMID: 18205853
Delusional parasitosis and the dopamine transporter. A new insight of etiology?
Huber M, Kirchler E, Karner M, Pycha R
Med Hypotheses 2007;68(6):1351-8. Epub 2006 Nov 28 doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2006.07.061. PMID: 17134847
Delusional parasitosis: case series of 8 patients and review of the literature.
Aw DC, Thong JY, Chan HL
Ann Acad Med Singap 2004 Jan;33(1):89-94. PMID: 15008571

Diagnosis

Drug-induced Delusional Infestation.
Kemperman PMJH, Bruijn TVM, Vulink NCC, Mulder MMC
Acta Derm Venereol 2022 Mar 8;102:adv00663. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v102.183. PMID: 35170743Free PMC Article
Delusional infestation: Clinical presentations, diagnosis, and management.
Torales J, García O, Barrios I, O'Higgins M, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Ventriglio A, Jafferany M
J Cosmet Dermatol 2020 Dec;19(12):3183-3188. Epub 2020 Oct 24 doi: 10.1111/jocd.13786. PMID: 33098221
Diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis.
Campbell EH, Elston DM, Hawthorne JD, Beckert DR
J Am Acad Dermatol 2019 May;80(5):1428-1434. Epub 2018 Dec 11 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.012. PMID: 30543832
Delusional Parasitosis: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Mumcuoglu KY, Leibovici V, Reuveni I, Bonne O
Isr Med Assoc J 2018 Jul;20(7):456-460. PMID: 30109800
Delusional infestation.
Freudenmann RW, Lepping P
Clin Microbiol Rev 2009 Oct;22(4):690-732. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00018-09. PMID: 19822895Free PMC Article

Therapy

Drug-induced Delusional Infestation.
Kemperman PMJH, Bruijn TVM, Vulink NCC, Mulder MMC
Acta Derm Venereol 2022 Mar 8;102:adv00663. doi: 10.2340/actadv.v102.183. PMID: 35170743Free PMC Article
Diagnosis and management of delusional parasitosis.
Campbell EH, Elston DM, Hawthorne JD, Beckert DR
J Am Acad Dermatol 2019 May;80(5):1428-1434. Epub 2018 Dec 11 doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.012. PMID: 30543832
Delusional Parasitosis: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Mumcuoglu KY, Leibovici V, Reuveni I, Bonne O
Isr Med Assoc J 2018 Jul;20(7):456-460. PMID: 30109800
Delusional infestation in psychodermatology.
Rosales Santillan M, Taylor DL, Reichenberg JS
G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2018 Aug;153(4):497-505. Epub 2018 Apr 18 doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05984-9. PMID: 29667798
Delusional parasitosis.
Wilson FC, Uslan DZ
Mayo Clin Proc 2004 Nov;79(11):1470. doi: 10.4065/79.11.1470. PMID: 15544029

Prognosis

Current Understanding and Approach to Delusional Infestation.
Moriarty N, Alam M, Kalus A, O'Connor K
Am J Med 2019 Dec;132(12):1401-1409. Epub 2019 Jul 8 doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.06.017. PMID: 31295443
Delusional infestation in psychodermatology.
Rosales Santillan M, Taylor DL, Reichenberg JS
G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2018 Aug;153(4):497-505. Epub 2018 Apr 18 doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05984-9. PMID: 29667798
Delusional Infestation and Chronic Pruritus: A Review.
Kimsey LS
Acta Derm Venereol 2016 Mar;96(3):298-302. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2236. PMID: 26337109
Skin changes in primary psychiatric disorders.
Basta-Juzbašić A, Bukvić Mokos Z
Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2015;23(2):87-95. PMID: 26228818
Second-generation antipsychotics in primary and secondary delusional parasitosis: outcome and efficacy.
Freudenmann RW, Lepping P
J Clin Psychopharmacol 2008 Oct;28(5):500-8. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e318185e774. PMID: 18794644

Clinical prediction guides

Historical and clinical considerations on Ekbom's syndrome.
Orsolini L, Gentilotti A, Giordani M, Volpe U
Int Rev Psychiatry 2020 Aug-Sep;32(5-6):424-436. Epub 2020 May 21 doi: 10.1080/09540261.2020.1757306. PMID: 32436416
Delusional infestation in psychodermatology.
Rosales Santillan M, Taylor DL, Reichenberg JS
G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2018 Aug;153(4):497-505. Epub 2018 Apr 18 doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05984-9. PMID: 29667798
Delusional Infestation and Chronic Pruritus: A Review.
Kimsey LS
Acta Derm Venereol 2016 Mar;96(3):298-302. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2236. PMID: 26337109
Frequency of delusional infestation by proxy and double delusional infestation in veterinary practice: observational study.
Lepping P, Rishniw M, Freudenmann RW
Br J Psychiatry 2015 Feb;206(2):160-3. Epub 2014 Dec 11 doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.144469. PMID: 25497298
Uncommon and/or bizarre features of dementia.
Cipriani G, Lucetti C, Danti S, Ulivi M, Nuti A
Acta Neurol Belg 2015 Mar;115(1):19-25. Epub 2014 May 23 doi: 10.1007/s13760-014-0306-y. PMID: 24854147

Recent systematic reviews

The global prevalence of primary psychodermatologic disorders: a systematic review.
Turk T, Liu C, Straube S, Dytoc M, Hagtvedt R, Dennett L, Abba-Aji A, Fujiwara E
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022 Dec;36(12):2267-2278. Epub 2022 Aug 27 doi: 10.1111/jdv.18478. PMID: 35924420
A systematic review of antipsychotic agents for primary delusional infestation.
McPhie ML, Kirchhof MG
J Dermatolog Treat 2022 Mar;33(2):709-721. Epub 2020 Jul 22 doi: 10.1080/09546634.2020.1795061. PMID: 32658556
Morgellons disease etiology and therapeutic approach: a systematic review.
Beuerlein KG, Balogh EA, Feldman SR
Dermatol Online J 2021 Aug 15;27(8) doi: 10.5070/D327854682. PMID: 34755952
The risky business of being an entomologist: A systematic review.
Stanhope J, Carver S, Weinstein P
Environ Res 2015 Jul;140:619-33. Epub 2015 Jun 10 doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.05.025. PMID: 26069935
Antipsychotic treatment of primary delusional parasitosis: systematic review.
Lepping P, Russell I, Freudenmann RW
Br J Psychiatry 2007 Sep;191:198-205. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.029660. PMID: 17766758

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Related information

    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...