Ectoparasitosis or Ekbom syndrome? A case report.

Ekbom syndrome, also called delusional parasitosis, is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the patient’s conviction that he or she is infested with parasites. Patients with Ekbom syndrome usually seek care from family physicians. We report a case in which the diagnosis of Ekbom syndrome was delayed owing to the presence of bits of spiders in the first sample the patient provided of the insects she believed had infested her and her apartment.