Demodicidosis in clinical practice: more questions than answers

Sokolova T.V., Golitsyna M.V., Malyarchuk A.P.

Russian Biotechnological University, Moscow, Russia

Demodicosis is a common parasitic dermatosis in humans. Data on the role of demodicosis as an independent nosological form are contradictory. However, in ICD-10 demodicosis is encrypted as "B88. Other acariasis. Dermatitis due to Demodex species".
Purpose. To study the variety of approaches of dermatologists to the problem of demodicosis using the anonymous survey method.
Methods. An individual registration card was used for an anonymous survey of doctors, including 45 questions with various answer options, posted on the electronic resource Google forms https://forms.gle/neH4zn27znwv4ZrW7. Doctors received information about the study at the Department of Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases with a cosmetology course at the Medical Institute of Continuing Education of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "ROSBIOTECH" and at the conference "Infections and Infection Control in Dermatology" (Moscow, 2023). 134 doctors took part in the study.
Results. Data on the level of professional training of doctors is presented. Defined frequency of registration of demodicosis in clinical practice, diagnostic criteria for demodicosis as an independent nosological form, features of its course against the background of coronavirus infection. Disadvantages and difficulties in laboratory diagnostics have been identified. The spectrum, frequency of use of drugs for treatment and their off-label use have been studied.
Conclusions. Entrenched false stereotypes regarding the clinic, diagnosis and treatment of the disease have been identified, which forms the basis of a scientific research algorithm to eliminate the identified shortcomings.