Delirium of Skin Infestation: Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of 73 Patients.
This was a descriptive and prospective study that focused on 73 cases of delirium of skin infestation from January 1st to December 31st, 2018, in the dermatology department of the Bamako Dermatology Hospital. The aim of this work was to describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of delusions of infestation, to deepen our knowledge of the disease in order to improve its overall management.
We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study of cases of identity document seen in dermatological consultation in the HDB dermatology department between January 1st and December 31st, 2018. Now, this department is the largest dermatological reference center in the country. In our study, we have included any patient with delirium of parasitic infestation. Delirium of skin infestation constituted 0.3% of consultations in the service. The average age was 52-years with extremes ranging from 12 to 85-years.They were 45 female and 28 male. The agents incriminated by the patients were mainly ants, earthworms and cicadas. The types of lesion complications observed in our patients were mainly lichenification, ulceration and excoriation. Seventy-two percent (72%) of patients have refused referral to the mental health service.
Delirium of skin Infestation is generally considered a rare disease,
increasingly observed during our dermatology consultations. Its
frequency is probably underestimated. It affects twice women as
men and there are often certain pre-morbid characteristics, such as
social isolation. Our study has established that the epidemiological
and clinical profile of delirium of infestation is similar to data in
the literature. Further studies are needed to substantiate risk factors for the disease.
Dermatol Open J. 2022; 7(1): 12-15.doi: 10.17140/DRMTOJ-7-150
