title: Avian mite dermatitis.
abstract: Avian mite infestation is a rare cause of pruritic dermatoses in humans. The mites spend the majority of their life cycle on the avian host but may be transmitted to man as a result of direct contact and also through airborne spread. We describe a case of infestation with the Northern Fowl Mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) from an abandoned birds nest in the roof of a patients home. This caused a pruritic erythematous papular eruption on exposed sites that settled with topical steroids. We discuss the diagnosis and range of clinical manifestations produced by avian mites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Amersham Hospital, Amersham, UK.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Orton
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D011537:Pruritus / Q000469:parasitology*