A fictitious insect infestation. Description of a case of Ekbom's Syndrome.

Ekbom’s syndrome, or Delusion of Infestation or Dermatozoic Delusion, is a rare, relatively unknown disease, seldom mentioned in the entomological literature, characterized by the delusional conviction of being infested by parasites, which cannot be removed. The case of a couple affected by this delusion is presented. In their attempt to free themselves of the fictitious parasites, patients perform a series of acts such as: repeated body and hair washing, continuous use of disinfectants, attempts to dig the parasites out with tweezers or razor blades, repeated disinfection of their household, continuous changes in clothing, and so on. Patients prefer to go to dermatologists because they have a strong conviction over the presence of somatic disease and do not accept any psychiatric advice for their complaints. There are also reports in the literature of the delusions being carried over to one or more other members of the family, like in this case.