Cytologic findings in Demodex folliculitis: a case report and review of the literature.

Infectious folliculitis of the head and neck has various etiologies, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Accurate morphologic recognition of microorganisms in biopsy and cytologic specimens is paramount in facilitating appropriate therapy. We report a case of a 37-yr-old white male with Demodex folliculitis, who presented with an extensive and painful erythematous pustular skin lesion along the right face and scalp in a dermatome pattern clinically suggestive of Varicella zoster. Examination of scraped smears obtained from one of these pustules revealed numerous parasitic organisms having morphologic features typical of Demodex. Herein, we describe the patient's clinical presentation, discuss the cytologic findings of scrape smears, and briefly review the literature. 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.