News & Information

Have you ever seen a creepy movie or walked through a spider web and just felt like your skin was crawling? Could you imagine that feeling persisting for days, months, or even years? This is what people suffering from a disorder called Delusions of Parasitosis, or DOP experience.

The feelings of irritation, itching, or crawling organisms are so real that victims become convinced that something has to be there. Usually a victim will begin with scratching the itch. But when the itch persists, more scratching often leads to rashes, open wounds, and sores, which are very susceptible to infection.

DOP is an emotional disorder in which a person is convinced that tiny, almost invisible insects or mites are present on - or even in - his or her body. The disorder can occur throughout one’s life but is most commonly associated with older white women. Oftentimes, they’ve just experienced a life-changing event such as the loss of a loved-one.

The following are some tips for determining imaginary “bug bites”:
• Bugs or worms are said to be coming out of skin or teeth.
• Pests float or rise up as a cloud from furniture.
• Pests turn into powder, self-destruct, or dissolve.
• Pests are attacking or damaging cooking pots, porcelain, or countertops.
• Pests are coming out of toothpaste, Vaseline, or cosmetics.
• Pests are too small to see but they can fly and jump.
• Pests make clicking or chirping noises.
• Pests change colors.

The good news is that there is hope for people with such afflictions. The ninth edition of the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control states that over 50% of people fully recover from DOP with the help of medical treatment.

Related Document: Fall 08 Newsletter_1.pdf (Fall 2008 Newsletter )

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