EKBOM SYNDROME
Ekbom - a rare paranoid syndrome of humans that increase recently . The following article will provide us some information about this syndrome!
1. WHAT IS EKBOM SYNDROME?
Have you ever felt on your skin: parasites, or lice, bugs are multiplying and thriving?
Have you ever imagined your body being attacked by bugs, and more than that, you never saw them appear before your eyes?
And… are you trying to find a way to get rid of them because the itching spreads all over your body?
According to the documents that we have found, the illusion of the presence of numerous parasites on the body includes: insects, larvae, organisms, worms, scarab beetles, etc. crawling, even getting into the skin to bite or sting is called Ekbom (ES) – A paranoid syndrome of living creatures and insects that are attacking your own body.
Ekbom syndrome (ES) is known as the clinical term for a mental disorder in which patients have hallucinations, delusions that parasites, pathogens are living in their own body (DP) . The syndrome is named after a Swedish neurologist Karl-Axel Ekbom, through the report of his research paper in 1937-1938, but many people confuse this syndrome with Restless Limbs – RLS, however, it is important to distinguish between the two because when you have RLS, you will include the symptoms of ES syndrome. And here are some clinical manifestations of patients with RLS syndrome:
a. Pins and needles
b. Aching calves
c. Cramps
d. Creepy-crawly sensation
e. Legs tearing open
f. Itching bones
See more at: https://hahoangkiem.com/benh-than-kinh-tam-than/hoi-chung-chan-khong-yen-rls-355.html
Observing Ekbom syndrome (ES), the prevalence is twofold higher in women than in men and usually occurs in single women. The average age of people with this disorder is 57. In an entomological survey in a small state in the United States, patients with ES syndrome fell in the range of more than 100.000 - 10 times higher than the statistics in 1995. ES is also considered as the most contagious psychotic syndrome than the others. Because of the condition, it isn't easy to replicate the scope of scientific research.
2. CAUSES:
Nowadays, the cause of delusional parasitosis (DP) or ekbom syndrome (ES) is unknown. However, scientists also think that it is related to an excess of dopamine in the brain's striatum, which is caused by a dysfunction of DAT - a dopamine transporter, which supports regulating dopamine uptake in the brain. Dopamine is also known to cause ants crawling sensations on the skin. Other conditions that also demonstrate reduced DAT functioning are known to cause secondary DP. These conditions include schizophrenia, depression, traumatic brain injury, alcoholism, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, and iron deficiency. In another report, antipsychotics improved DP symptoms, which may be because they affect dopamine transmission.
3. SYMPTOMS:
Patients with ES syndrome often present with scarring or scabs. They often feel on the skin that there is always the existence of bugs, crawling insects, getting into the skin to bite and sting. Patients with this disorder even claim that the wounds on their bodies are caused by larvae trying to crawl out of their skin. However, when asked further questions, they typically admitted that they caused some of the serious injuries in their skin. "because if I do not solve them all, sores would never heal."
In the beginning, patients only hurt their bodies normally without affecting their lives; in other words, they can control their behavior to avoid harm as much as their bodies. However, with the frequency of dense and more severe, the patient will have strange, more obsessive actions, even organizing superstitious rituals to cleanse the parasites from the body. That will adversely affect and dominate thoughts leading to negative behaviors, causing dangerous wounds to the patients. Since then, many cases have been isolated in their own homes to avoid infecting others.
Manifestations of the syndrome (at "PICTURES" section)
- Patients try to use sharp objects to create core marks on the skin to extract bugs out of the body. That has caused a skin infection and includes mechanical damage by the harsh treatments to create blistering, ulceration.
- Patients use these different types of substances on the skin to kill insects despite the irritation and sensitivity of the skin: pesticides, substances banned from use on the body, homes, vehicles,...
- The patient shows signs of self-torture by various methods that cause skin damage, despite dangerous consequences: dermatitis, skin cancer, etc.
- The patient attempts to clean the house, personal vehicle with harsh chemicals, thus causing damage to furniture and home appliances.
- Patients tend to withdraw and isolate themselves from society because they think the syndrome will easily spread to many people around after exposure. Thence, they will be afraid to work outside of society and just huddle in their own house.
The patient's psychology will be unstable and more serious through the above expressions: depression, stress, then substance abuse and anxiety. Their personal lives and career are frequently interrupted because they are extremely distressed about their symptoms.
See more at:
Ekbom Syndrome: The Challenge of “Invisible Bug” Infestations Nancy C. Hinkle
4. TREATMENT:
People with this syndrome often refuse professional medical diagnosis of paranoia, parasites, and few are willing to treat, although the condition may improve. Currently, there is no definite treatment for ES syndrome or parasitoid delusion (DP). The only treatment that provides a cure, and the most effective treatment, is low doses of antipsychotic medication sedation and continuous use until the condition is relieved, such as Aripiprazole, Ziprasidone, Risperidone, Olanzapine,... or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is also used effectively.
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Credit: Mei Do
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Notes:
ES: Ekbom Syndrome
DP: Delusional Parasitosis / Parasitoid Delusion
DAT: Dopamine Transporter
RLS: Restless Limbs
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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