DEMODICIDOSIS IN CHILDHOOD ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA - AN OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION OCCURRING WITH IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

We report demodicidosis in 11 children with acute lymphoblastic leukem ia and a mildly pruritic, erythematous papular dermatitis that develop ed in areas rich in sebaceous glands. Demodex eruptions were safely an d effectively treated with 5% permethrin. Proliferation of commensal p arasites of the skin, Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis may be a n opportunistic infection of the skin in the immunocompromised host; t he expected abrogation of cell-mediated immunity secondary to lymphocy te depletion predisposes some children given chemotherapy for leukemia to mite proliferation.