- The Signs of these Phobias
- Matchbox Sign
- Patient presents container with purported parasite
- Focal erosions on exposed areas of arms and legs
- Results from attempts to pick bugs from skin
Yes, after suffering for about a year, having seen about three physicians
(two dermatologists) for itchy, biting, rashes, skin ulcerations, etc. I went to
another dermatologist with a piece of skin--rather gelatinous in nature--that I
had removed from a site on my neck. This specialist came highly recommended as
the best in the area--took 14 weeks to obtain an appointment. He examined my skin, took
my gelatinous sample,
left the room, and, at my insistence, examined it under a microscope.
I waited with "bated breadth" (pardon my pun) for his return hoping
to hear good news that he had found something that could be treated. Sure I had plug
samples taken before, but maybe they were from the wrong place on my body. I
carefully hand picked this one just to be sure I had something that could be
identified.
Personally, I had examined some things I found on my skin under a microscope.
I found round eggs and thing that looked like a bug with two pincers. Now I hoped I'd have something for positive identification.
Can you imagine the disappointment in my face when he returned and reported
that he found nothing and instead of prescribing me the magic lotion or pill I
had hoped for, gave me a copy of an article about Delusions of
Parasitosis and explained to me in great detail how stress can cause these
things to happen. And when I told him that my lady friend was likewise infected,
he explained it as folie a deux. And no matter how I told him I was
initially infected by a cloud of dust from pulling a vine from a tree--he just
gave me that understanding look suggesting I see a psychiatrist.
Of course you can imagine the disappointment--you experienced it too, otherwise,
unless you're doing a school project on these particular fears, you wouldn't be
reading this web page. Yes, I had all the classic match box signs reported above which is
taken from http://www.fpnotebook.com/DER244.htm
web site.
The site goes on to outline a protocol in which one of the first goals is to
access if indeed there is a real parasitic problem. And all that makes perfect
medical sense until you have gone through the process, done some research and
discovered that the medical specialist we generally rely on don't know how to
adequately test for parasite infection. They generally take a plug sample
(biopsy) and send it to a lab where who knows how it's tested. But, in
researching I've learned that it matters how the sample is taken.
A book I found in our local library, Life That Lives on Man written by an
Englishman and published in the late 70's spoke extensively of how little
physicians know of parasites that live on man and how easily they diagnose the
problem as a fear. The book went into great length how to sample the skin for
different mites by trapping them with oil, yet none of the physicians I
consulted used any similar method, much less knew what to look for or how to
sample for them.
Then of course, if they indeed do find evidence of parasitic infection, a
treatment protocol is spelled out using Pimozide (Orap). What they don't know is
that if the infection is chronic, this alone won't work without a strict diet.
And then guess what, you're diagnosed as having Delusions of
Parasitosis, or Ekbom's Syndrome, or
Parasitophobic Neurodermatitis, or Entomophobia, or Delusory Parasitosis, or
Dermatophobia, or Parasitophobia.
If you're wondering if you've been misdiagnosed, click
here to read my personal hell and see if you relate with my experience. If
so, there may be light for you at the end of the tunnel, for at times, I
thought the parasitic infection which truly turned out to be a combination of
mites and fungus would be the end of me.
Key words:
Delusions of Parasitosis
Ekbom's Syndrome,
Parasitophobic Neurodermatitis
Entomophobia,
Delusory Parasitosis,
Dermatophobia
Parasitophobia.
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