PERIORIBITARY LIQUENIFICATION DUE TO A DELUSION OF INFESTATION

Abstract

Delusions of parasitosis is a rare psychiatric condition in which patients have a fixed and false idea of being infested by parasites or inanimate objects. Patients not only manifest parasites, but also bacteria, viruses, and even foreign bodies. Delusional parasitosis is mentioned as a nonspecific psychotic condition characterized by a false and rigid belief, against medical evidence, of being infested by parasites, generally accompanied by tactile and/or visual hallucinations. Patients try to eliminate the parasites by extracting and digging the skin, producing excoriation, scarification and other lesions. The case of a 53-year-old female patient is presented, who goes to the emergency room of Hospital de Clinicas (Paraguay) for better evaluation. After ruling out organicity, she is referred to the Psychiatric Service for better management and where the patient presents good response to an atypical antipsychotic (risperidone) as initial treatment.