Hi everyone, I tried to do a search for Delusional Parasitosis, but the search option doesn't work for me right now. This may not be the correct place to make this post, and it may already be posted, but as I said I couldn't do a search.
A friend had mentioned the other day the process of diagnosing a patient with DOP, he said it was a lengthy process, and if done properly it is.
I wonder how many of us went through this process before being handed that diagnosis, I know I was diagnosed in less than 10 minutes, and that was from the time I walked in the room, the doc was in the room for about one minute when he handed me a brochure on Delusional Parasitosis.
Niecy
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Delusory Parasitosis - Minnesota Dept. of Health
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of DP is a lengthy process involving the following steps:
1. Take a careful case history.
2. Perform a complete physical examination and laboratory evaluation, including skin scrapings and/or biopsies, blood counts, chemistry profile, thyroid function tests, and vitamin B12 levels.
3. Rule out other medical conditions (eg, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and lymphoblastomas) with skin manifestations that can appear to be caused by arthropods.
4. Work with entomologists or parasitologists to rule out true infestations (eg, scabies mites, animal mites, lice, fleas, and bed bugs).
5. Rule out other organic causes (eg, allergies and contact dermatitis).
6. Rule out history of drug abuse (especially in younger or male patients).
I actually had a biopsy report that suggested an arthropod attack, and got diagnosed with pernicious anemia (B-12 dificiency), but the DOP is still in the records....go figure!