When allergology meets psychiatry: delusional parasitosis (Ekbom's syndrome)

Delusional parasitosis (DP) or Ekbom's syndrome is uncommon psychiatric disorder that may represent a challenge for the allergist. DP is characterized by the fixed belief to be infested with parasites or small living creatures, although there is no medical evidence for this. The management of this condition is difficult, as patients with this paranoid disorder reject psychiatric diagnosis and treatment and often consult many specialists (dermatologists, internists or allergists). The patients may also share the delusional disease with other people living in close emotional relationship. We report herein a delusion of parasitosis simultaneously occurring in two spouses, and discuss the clinical features of the disease.