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Demodex folliculorum in pregnancy
I E Aydingöz1, B Dervent, O Güney
1Department of Dermatology, Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
International Journal of Dermatology
|November 30, 2000
Summary
Pregnancy does not appear to directly influence Demodex folliculorum (DF) mite density. Studies comparing pregnant women to non-pregnant controls found no significant difference in mite carriage, suggesting pregnancy has minimal impact on DF levels.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Demodex folliculorum (DF) mites reside in human pilosebaceous follicles.
- DF is associated with various skin conditions like rosacea, blepharitis, and lesions in immunocompromised individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of pregnancy on Demodex folliculorum mite density.
- To compare DF carriage in pregnant women versus age- and sex-matched controls.
Main Methods:
- Skin surface biopsies were collected from 40 pregnant women and controls.
- Mite density was quantified and compared between the two groups.
- Statistical analysis used the Mann-Whitney test.
Main Results:
- The mean DF density in pregnant women was 0.55 mites/cm².
- The mean DF density in non-pregnant controls was 1.2 mites/cm².
- The difference in mite density between pregnant and non-pregnant groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.22).
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy does not seem to have a direct effect on Demodex folliculorum mite density.
- Further research may be needed to explore indirect influences or specific subpopulations.