Abstract
A 66-year-old woman who had erythematous papules on the face with joint pain in her legs visited our clinic. Although laboratory data showed no abnormalities and serological tests for syphilis were negative, she believed and insisted that she was infected with syphilis that caused those symptoms. She also consulted an orthopedist and a physician, but her symptoms were not resolved. She then saw us again and complained that some insects appeared from her skin. However, those were only dusts and scales. From these findings, the patient was given a diagnosis of delusions of cutaneous parasitosis associated with delusions of infection with syphilis. Oral pimozide was effective and her symptoms gradually improved. Delusions of cutaneous parasitosis may be a psychiatric disease, but most of the patients need help of dermatologist. We have to deal with them by appropriate counseling and medications.
