Worms?

[ferlew]

My neighbour is convinced she has minute worms crawling on her face.
I know we all have microscopic ones, but she insists she can see these and see them moving.
I can't see anything, but she won't let me look closely,
She does have marks where she has scratched at her face. She won't see the GP, but will let me take her to see a pharmacist today.
Any clues anyone?

[Sqad]

Scabies comes to mind and as a close second ...dermodex mites.
Google them.

[ferlew]

I knew of scabies, I will google the other, many thanks Squad.

[jackthehat]

A less common cause, perhaps.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgellons

[Palustris]

Or perhaps she has been taking codeine. That can have the effect of making susceptible people feel that there are tiny things walking on the skin.

[hellywelly4]

How old is she? Not a silly question, could she have the start of something like dementia?

[EDDIE51]

Paranoid schizophrenia is the first thing that comes to my mind for this.

[Mamyalynne]

Ferlew by all means take her to the Pharmacist, she may listen to their advice which will no doubt be to see her GP.

The fact she states she can see them rather than just feel them does need more investigation.

[Sqad]

\\\Paranoid schizophrenia is the first thing that comes to my mind for this.\\

"The first thing?"

[EDDIE51]

^ Yes that's the first thought that came into my mind when I read that she sees worms crawling over her face ! Delusions due to schizophrenia.

[woofgang]

There are many other conditions that cause sensory hallucinations. A common one is the wrong medication or combination of medications....much commoner than schizophrenia.

[tonyav]

Hi ferlew, does your neighbour have poor / failing eyesight ?.
Have a look at this link ( she see's these minute worms but doesn't mention feeling them ).

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/charles-bonnet-syndrome/Pages/introduction.aspx

[cowgal]

"I know we all have microscopic ones,"
What? really? we all have microscopic worms?

[Mamyalynne]

As Sqad mentioned at the start, Dermodex mites, rarely cause bother but they can do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/story/20150508-these-mites-live-on-your-face

[ferlew]

Interesting answers, many thanks.
Did take her to an all day pharmacist on Sunday, and they had never heard of the drug Ivermectin which Mr Google advised me to ask for. Came home with some Derbac liquid to try.
Gave her a tube of Aveeno in case the Derbac causes dryness.
I can see marks on her face quite angry, but nothing moving.
Done my bit over the weekend, up to her family now I think to sort one way or another.

(Certainly learned a lot about mental conditions and parasites, now I'm itching like mad)
Thanks for all replies.