[Ekbom syndrome or delusional parasitosis].

Abstract

Ekbom syndrome or delusional parasitosis is mainly described in presenile women who are unmarried or living alone. The presenting dermatological symptom is persistent pruritus, and the patients take medical advice in several practitioners one after another. The typical symptom is the behaviour of bringing sample of the allegered parasites inside small containers, defined as the "matchbox sign". The patient is so convincing that she shares delusion of infestation by his familiars who complaint of pruritus. The Ekbon syndrome is defined as the most contagious of psychiatric syndromes. Beyond psychotherapy, pimozide is the drug of choice in such a syndrome.