parasitosis

noun

par·​a·​sit·​o·​sis ˌper-ə-sə-ˈtō-səs 

-ˌsī-,

ˌpa-rə-

plural parasitoses ˌper-ə-sə-ˈtō-ˌsēz 

-ˌsī-,

ˌpa-rə-

: infestation with or disease caused by parasites

Examples of parasitosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Morgellons disease, a form of delusional parasitosis, is a contested condition in which people are thought to have a false belief that they are infected by parasites, mites, worms or other organisms, despite testing suggesting the contrary, according to the Mayo Clinic. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025

Compassion avoids angering or insulting someone with delusional parasitosis. —Korin Miller, Health, 17 Nov. 2023

Patients with dermatological parasitosis have delusions that insects are walking on or crawling through their skin. —Amy Barth, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2019

Secondary delusional parasitosis might occur with substance abuse disorder. —Korin Miller, Health, 17 Nov. 2023

This paper has been popular in the delusional parasitosis community. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2012

Delusional parasitosis is the opposite of Morgellons: doctors believe in it, but the people who have it, don't. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2011

Morgellons disease, or antipsychotic-responsive delusional parasitosis, in an hiv patient: beliefs in the age of the internet. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 19 Feb. 2011

The misguided belief that one’s body is being overrun by worms also has a name: delusional parasitosis. —NBC News, 14 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for parasitosis

• amyloidosis
• anaplasmosis
• anastomosis
• aponeurosis
• apotheosis
• aspergillosis
• blastomycosis
• coccidiosis
• cryptococcosis
• cysticercosis
• endocytosis
• exocytosis

Medical Definition

parasitosis

noun

par·​a·​sit·​o·​sis -sə-ˈtō-səs  -ˌsīt-ˈō- 

plural parasitoses -ˌsēz 

: infestation with or disease caused by parasites