“Delusional Infestations” is presented by COL (Ret.) Scott Norton, MD, MPH, MSc who is an Adjunct Professor of Dermatology and Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He has expertise in cutaneous parasitic infections and arthropod-associated skin diseases, which has prompted many patients who are concerned that their skin is infested with arthropods or parasites to consult him. This includes patients with delusional infestations (DI), previously known as delusional parasitosis.
Dr. Norton works with patients who consult him for strange or uncomfortable sensations in their skin. Many of these patients suspect that their skin is infested with arthropods or parasites. Some patients present with true infestations, such as scabies, while others are relieved to discover their skin sensations are caused by a non-communicable skin disease totally unrelated to an infestation. However, some patients are convinced that they are indeed infested and they often bring “specimen bags” for examination. There are a range of conditions, medical and psychologic, that can induce itchy or uncomfortable sensations leading to incessant scratching and picking of the skin. Some patients have a monosymptomatic psychosis known as delusional infestation. A DI diagnosis requires a combination of abnormal skin sensations, a patient’s unwavering conviction that the sensations are caused by an infestation, and a complete absence of supporting entomological evidence.
Many medical conditions, including thyroid disease, substance abuse, peripheral neuropathy, liver disease and diabetes, can cause severe itching or crawling sensations. DI is classified as a delusional disorder that often begins with an underlying medical condition and progresses to gain a psychiatric component. Dr. Norton will discuss tips for entomologists and pest control professionals who work with clients with suspected DI.
Негізгі бет AFPMB Seminar Series - Delusional Infestations
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