Parasitosis ilusoria intestinal y dermatológica: casos clínicos / Delusional parasitosis intestinal and dermatological: clinical cases

Illusory parasitosis, better known as delusional parasitosis, is a neuropsychiatric syndrome in which patients have the belief of suffering a parasitic disease, that can not be demonstrated after an exhaustive medical study. These patients are characterized by being polyconsultants in different medical specialties and, many of them, have antecedents of psychiatric disorders, some of them undiagnosed. Knowing the existence of the clinical picture, diagnosing early and empathizing with the patient, could give to clinician some clues for a timely and assertive psychiatric referral, and improve patient adherence to the proposed treatment.

La parasitosis ilusoria, más conocida como delusión parasitaria, es un síndrome neuropsiquiátrico donde los pacientes tienen el convencimiento de padecer una infestación parasitaria, que no puede ser demostrada tras un exhaustivo estudio médico. Estos pacientes se caracterizan por ser policonsultantes en distintas especialidades médicas y, muchos de ellos, poseen antecedentes de trastornos psiquiátricos, algunos de ellos no diagnosticados. Conocer la existencia del cuadro, diagnosticar precozmente y empatizar con el paciente, pueden dar al médico clínico algunas claves para una derivación psiquiátrica oportuna y asertiva, y mejorar la adherencia del paciente al tratamiento propuesto. Se presentan cuatro casos clínicos que consultaron por esta extraña condición.

Psicodermatología en la atención primaria / Psychodermatology in primary care

The skin has the distinction of being the largest, visible and accessible part of the human body, and it hides a close and old relationship with the human psyche, and so has been demonstrated in the last years, where more elements of the Mental Health are elucidated playing a role in the pathogenesis of skin diseases, as well as there are some descriptions of the inverse relationship, this is, on how the skin diseases affect Mental Health of the individual. In this paper we propose to emphasize the importance of the issue, to consider a comprehensive approach to everyday Dermatology in Primary Care Medicine.

Síndrome de Ekbom: a propósito de un caso / Ekbom syndrome: apropos of a case

El síndrome de Ekbom o delirio de parasitosis es una condición psiquiátrica infrecuente cuyo síntoma principal es la idea delirante de estar infestado con organismos vivientes, como parásitos, bacterias, virus, insectos o gusanos. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 34 años con un cuadro compatible con este síndrome. Se revisa brevemente la literatura disponible y se realiza una correlación teórico-clínica con los síntomas del paciente, y se concluye que el paciente sufría un síndrome de Ekbom de tipo primario y mixto.

The Ekbom syndrome or delusional parasitosis is an uncommon psychiatric condition, in which the main symptom is the delusion of being infested with living organisms such as parasites, bacteria, virus, bugs or worms. The case is presented of a 34 year-old man with symptoms compatible with the syndrome. The available literature is briefly reviewed and theoretical correlation with clinical symptomatology is made. The patient had a primary and mixed Ekbom syndrome.

Atypical case of Delusional Parasitosis in Genital area.

A patient with delusional parasitosis of genital area, who responded to amisulpride is described.