Citation

de Mendonça FJP, Teixeira IA, Marinho V. Dement. Neuropsychol. 2020; 14(1): 83-87.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento)

DOI

10.1590/1980-57642020dn14-010014

PMID

32206204

PMCID

PMC7077860

Abstract

Ekbom Syndrome, also known as parasitosis delusion or psychogenic parasitosis, is a rare condition in which patients present with a fixed belief of being infested by parasites, vermin or small insects, along with tactile hallucinations (such as pruritus or sensations of the parasites crawling over or under the skin). The syndrome may occur idiopathically or be associated with other medical conditions and drug use. This case report describes the occurrence of Ekbom syndrome in a patient diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), a neurodegenerative disease that commonly presents with sensory perception and thought disorders and other neuropsychiatric symptoms. Although visual hallucination is considered a core diagnostic criterion, other modalities of psychiatric symptoms can also occur posing a further challenge for correct diagnosis. Proper recognition allows early diagnosis and adequate treatment, preventing hazardous antipsychotic use in these patients.

Language: en

Keywords

self-harm; delusional disorders; Lewy Body Dementia; acarophobia; dementias; Ekbom syndrome; parasitosis delusion; psychogenic parasitosis