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What Causes Hallucination Of Parasites Crawling Over Body?

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Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2014
Question: I have a lot of symptoms that I'm trying to put together and constantly trying something new. A skin specialist said I have a weird feel to my skin which I suspected but don"t really go around feeling other peoples skin and didn't know if it was age related. I have to change the water three times to take a bath. My skin is both greasy and chalky feeling. I am weaning off alprazalam (don't know if related). I thought I had parasites and took several different things for that. I think my hair feels weird too. My feet and hands are swollen and hurt. You are a doctor so I'm not sure if you will acknowledge there is anything to this, but I was injected with gadolinium and there was still some in my urine two years after the MRI. I also had a lot of lead which I'm not too concerned about because you can actually get that out of the body.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Abhishek Kapoor (47 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
delusion of parasitosis or somatoform disorder

Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.

I think, you have either somatoform disorder or delusion of parasitosis. In that case, you need treatment with antidepressant or antipsychotic. Let me explain you:

In somatoform disorder, is a psychological disorder characterized by symptoms that suggest physical illness or injury – symptoms that cannot be explained fully by a general medical condition or by the direct effect of a substance and are not attributable to another psychological disorder. In people who have a somatic symptom disorder, medical test results are either normal or do not explain the person's symptoms, and history and physical examination do not indicate the presence of a medical condition that could cause them.

Delusional parasitosis, or delusory parasitosis, also known as Ekbom's syndrome is a form of psychosis whose victims acquire a strong delusional belief that they are infested with parasites, whereas in reality no such parasites are present.

In think, you have either of them. You told, even after two years, lead is in your body, that is not possible. You should consult a psychiatrist for proper management.

In case, you need further help, you can ask.

Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Abhishek Kapoor (46 minutes later)
I'm sorry, you would come up with that with my question. I've been to different doctors and NONE of them came close to that answer if they know me. I just thought that someone out there might have a unique insight instead of coming up with that because you don't know! Are you seriously that egotistical to think if you don't have an answer it must be that I'm delusional??? I did have parasites but wasn't sure if they were all gone. I had another professional person who works with skin many hours every day tell me my skin had a weird texture. Thought maybe there could be an imbalance from all the stuff I took.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Abhishek Kapoor (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You can consult a psychiatrist

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for your opinion about my answer, but the way, you have explained all your symptoms, it is not possible. A parasite can't move inside body and take away the organ. You told, you are feeling that your skin is greasy and hair are weird. In that case, only dermatologist could help you. I am not saying, you have delusion, but i have given my opinion. You can consult a psychiatrist. Sometime, due to some psychological issues, patients aggravate their physical symptoms. You told that even after two years, lead is in your body, but usually after contrast, lead move out of body completely in few days. That could be your misunderstanding about your illness. There is nothing harm in consulting a psychiatrist. That could help to rule out psychosomtic disorder.

In case, you have any more query, you can ask.

Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Abhishek Kapoor

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2496 Questions

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What Causes Hallucination Of Parasites Crawling Over Body?

Brief Answer: delusion of parasitosis or somatoform disorder Detailed Answer: HI Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query. I think, you have either somatoform disorder or delusion of parasitosis. In that case, you need treatment with antidepressant or antipsychotic. Let me explain you: In somatoform disorder, is a psychological disorder characterized by symptoms that suggest physical illness or injury – symptoms that cannot be explained fully by a general medical condition or by the direct effect of a substance and are not attributable to another psychological disorder. In people who have a somatic symptom disorder, medical test results are either normal or do not explain the person's symptoms, and history and physical examination do not indicate the presence of a medical condition that could cause them. Delusional parasitosis, or delusory parasitosis, also known as Ekbom's syndrome is a form of psychosis whose victims acquire a strong delusional belief that they are infested with parasites, whereas in reality no such parasites are present. In think, you have either of them. You told, even after two years, lead is in your body, that is not possible. You should consult a psychiatrist for proper management. In case, you need further help, you can ask. Regards Dr. Abhishek Kapoor Psychiatrist