Parasitic Skin Infestations

As the skin is constantly exposed to the environment, it represents a common portal of entry for different parasites. Infestations with parasites can cause systemic diseases in humans but often result in cutaneous lesions which are on the rise in dermatology clinical practice due to the increase of travel and immigration.

Despite the considerable burden parasitic skin infestations can cause, their significance has often been neglected by the healthcare providers and scientific community alike. Furthermore, the debilitating impact a persistent itch can have must be taken into account when assessing these conditions.

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Protozoan and helminth infestations

Protozoan infestations are characterized by a transient skin phase following infestation via the cutaneous route and include African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and South American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease). The former vesicular lesion develops approximately five days after a bite of a tsetse fly, whereas the latter is characterized by a marked and usually unilateral periorbital edema known as Romaña’s sign.

Cutaneous amebiasis is a rare skin manifestation of a disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica, which is a protozoan parasite found worldwide. The disease initially presents as a deep-seated swelling that ulcerates and forms a necrotic base with blood and pus.

A myriad of helminthic diseases can present with various dermatologic signs and symptoms such as skin nodules, migratory skin lesions, cysts, and itching. Various cestode or tapeworm species, such as Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus, and Spirometra spp., may form cysts under the skin.

Infestation with different nematode or roundworm species, which are typically zoonotic species that accidentally infect humans, can result in swelling and subcutaneous lesions at the point of entry. Some of the nematodes infecting the skin include filarial species such as Loa loa, Mansonella streptocerca, Onchocerca volvulus, as well as Gnathostoma spp. and Dirofilaria spp.

Trematode (fluke) infestations that involve the skin are scarce; for example, invading cercariae in schistosomiasis may provoke a transient allergic rash that lasts up to five days (cercarial dermatitis) while traveling to the bloodstream. The non-human schistosome species can also cause a similar type of dermatitis known as pelican itch or swimmer’s itch.

Ectoparasites

Scabies is a cosmopolitan cutaneous infestation caused by the human scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis and can be acquired by personal direct skin contact. The scabies mite lays eggs in a previously burrowed tunnel of up to 4 millimeters (mm) into the superficial layer of the epidermis.

Papules, with or without excoriation, and S-shaped burrows are the classical lesions of scabies that, together with intense pruritus, support the diagnosis of this condition. Moreover, individuals of all age groups who suffer from chronic crusted scabies may present with eczema, impetiginized plaques, and hyperkeratosis masking the typical clinical signs of scabies.

Three species of lice are known to infect humans, which include the head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis), the body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis), and the pubic louse (Pthirius pubis). Each of these lice species feeds on the blood of the host, which causes inflammation, itching, and skin discoloration.

Similarly, fleas bite humans in order to obtain a blood meal, which induces a localized inflammatory reaction. A clinical presentation of itching with papules, vesicles, or small nodules, often in clusters, on both feet and lower legs is characteristic, while scratching can result in bacterial superinfections.

References

Further Reading

Last Updated: Dec 1, 2022

Dr. Tomislav Meštrović

Written by

Dr. Tomislav Meštrović

Dr. Tomislav Meštrović is a medical doctor (MD) with a Ph.D. in biomedical and health sciences, specialist in the field of clinical microbiology, and an Assistant Professor at Croatia's youngest university - University North. In addition to his interest in clinical, research and lecturing activities, his immense passion for medical writing and scientific communication goes back to his student days. He enjoys contributing back to the community. In his spare time, Tomislav is a movie buff and an avid traveler.

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Comments

  1. Cindy Wright Cindy Wright United States says:

    I have been very sick for a few years, this is constant morning noon and night. I wake get out of bed, nausea and headache come on severe nausea. My limbs are cold, my face is flushed red with white dripping looking white areas that are cold, I get a rash with swelling on my body random areas. Severe neck pain that comes and goes now but 2 years ago I could barely get out of bed. Now I been on methotrexate and hydroxychloriquine, but I woke with eye pain and watering eye, I took a picture of a white pointy spot where the pain was, I went to ER and he couldn't find it, it is some kind of worm. I have severe burning feeling that is localized to several areas. Where the initial tick bite was back left thigh my muscle and tissue is eaten away. My muscle convulse left leg. Blood counts all over the place, monocytes high, mcv.  I believe I have a terrible co infection of lymes disease, thigh and leg swelljng, blood clots.... very painful. Brain problems. Ringing in ear, face pain numbness swelling.  Please help me if you can. Cindy 715-791-4801

    • Patricia Boyer Rossi Patricia Boyer Rossi United States says:

      Were you able to find help? I feel like no one wants to be involved in a complicated diagnosis. The VA is just waiting for me to die. Lots of suffering. I feel mine has been in me long time, but no one identified problems it was causing and I only knew when it got real bad. Been fighting by myself 2 years now. The travel between ears, ear canal, eye lids and brows, nose, chin, head, glands hurt the worse but I know its in the blood stream as it is in arms, legs, hands and feet as well. Covid has made it very hard to find help. Please let me know how you are surviving.

  2. Patricia Boyer Rossi Patricia Boyer Rossi United States says:

    Taenia solium is unique, since it can infect humans via eggs released from the human tapeworm carrier or via metacestodes derived from pigs. Metacestodes of this parasite can survive longer than 10–30 years in the human brain with no symptoms (Yanagida et al., 2010). Cysticerci of T. solium cause cysticercosis including the most potentially lethal NCC
    Or something close to that...been doing loads of reading for self preservation...but its hard...

  3. J a. Floyd J a. Floyd United States says:

    I'm in my 7th year, that's right. Come may it'll be 7 years that I've been symptomatic. I'm pretty sure this started years ago. It's going to be really hard to find a doctor who will listen who will not tell you you're crazy or who will have you repetitively take stool samples for testing that will all come back negative. Why you ask? Well that's because here in the United States they don't test for tapeworms cuz they already know you have them and it's what makes you sick. It's probably what started your journey with a doctor and since all disease comes from inflammation and parasites, one to three people have parasites. One and three people have cancer. Not a coincidence. We need to somehow get up, get together, fight and win this battle because the only other option is death living this way is not realistic! My heart goes out to every one of you! I wish I could help you!

  4. Jennifer Thompson Jennifer Thompson United States says:

    All of your story's hit home as I'm dealing with all the same. It is a very lonely existence because those you tell think you're crazy so you either bottle it up or people stop being around you cause they think you're crazy..

  5. Karen Greer Karen Greer United States says:

    Help I have been fighting lesions trails bumps on my legs for a year.  These mites are in all my skin.   Face belly everywhere.  Think from lime but they diagnosed me 7 years ago with MS.   May not be ms

  6. Karen Greer Karen Greer United States says:

    Need help parasite under skin everywhere.   Diagnosed MS 3 years ago same time I tested positive for lime desease.   UAB said could not be lime from tick too rare in AL

  7. Robert Macon Robert Macon United States says:

    I've been fighting these bugs underneath my skin for 11 years by soaking using how air but they keep coming I have a Question my Auntie Gave my girlfriend a cookie and put oil on her neck told her it would help with her drug Addiction and she broke out with the bug's it made them act crazy and multiply more what's going on my family has been doing this to me so I need help

  8. Robert Macon Robert Macon United States says:

    Is there something you can put in food or whatever that will cause a in of infestation of tapeworms to increase mutation or so kind of posing cause it makes My skin dark and clogging up my blood flow bad headache blurred vision things flying of my body

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
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