title: Dermoscopy for the in vivo detection of sarcoptes scabiei.
abstract: We report the case of an 80-year-old patient who had intense pruritus which did not respond to a 3-month treatment with topical corticosteroids. On dermoscopy examination of the excoriations, we found the typical dermoscopic aspect of the scabies mite at a distance. Dermoscopy allows identifying a triangular structure which corresponds to the anterior section of the mite including the mouth part and the 2 pairs of front legs. This aspect has been described as resembling a jetliner with its trail, a delta glider or a spermatozoid. Traditional diagnostic methods for scabies failed in this case because the mites were at a distance from the burrows. This was due to the fact that the reaction to the mite was less pronounced and the diagnosis is frequently missed. Dermoscopy is a useful tool for the diagnosis of scabies either as a diagnostic test or to guide the traditional diagnostic tests.
authors.affiliation: Pigmented Skin Lesion Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stucki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saurat
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000469:parasitology; D012520:Sarcoptes scabiei; D012532:Scabies / Q000175:diagnosis*