An urban outbreak of red mite dermatitis in Italy

In this paper an urban outbreak dermatitis is reported. Case reports of red mite dermatitis are rare, because it is difficult to detect and accurately identify red mites, and thus to relate symptoms to those parasites. There Is little mention of red mite dermatitis in medical textbooks. Physicians and dermatologists are keenly aware of dermatoses associated with the burrowing mites Sarcoptes scabiei. If dermatitis is caused by ectoparasites of zoonotic interest, it is often misdiagnosed. Indeed, it is common to see skin damage, but not to find arthropods on patients. Thus, the occurrence of red mite represents the principal ectoparasite acquired by humans in an hurban environment from feral pigeons, together with the pigeon tick, Argas reflex. Today, feral pigeons are among the most successful avian settlers in our cities, where they have few enemies and food is always abundant.