title: [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.
authors.affiliation: Unité des maladies parasitaires, hôpital de Bicêtre, 94275 Kremlin-Bicêtre. patrice.bouree@bct.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourée
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benattar
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Périvier
mesh_terms: D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy