New pandemic, old bugs: A case of cimicosis (Bed Bug) in a neglected elderly patient during the coronavirus disease quarantine

Abstract Bed bugs are hematophagous arthropods that can parasitize humans. During the coronavirus disease pandemic, there has been an increase in elderly neglect. A man in his 90s came to the hospital complaining of generalized pruritus. Despite being a dependent patient, he was left alone in a home...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Main Authors: Gerson Dellatorre, Vidal Haddad Jr
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0791-2020
https://doaj.org/article/11392f4ce8dc452d8e93056248302227
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Summary:Abstract Bed bugs are hematophagous arthropods that can parasitize humans. During the coronavirus disease pandemic, there has been an increase in elderly neglect. A man in his 90s came to the hospital complaining of generalized pruritus. Despite being a dependent patient, he was left alone in a home by his relatives during the pandemic. Examination revealed inflammatory nodules in addition to a live bed bug crawling over his trunk. Identifying a bed bug during consultation is an uncommon feature that can help determine a particular diagnosis. As this case shows, the need for social isolation during pandemics can contribute to elder abuse and neglect.