Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 May;55(5):902-913.
doi: 10.1007/s00247-024-06101-5. Epub 2024 Nov 26.

Ultrasound evaluation of superficial lesions caused by ectoparasites in children

Affiliations
Review

Ultrasound evaluation of superficial lesions caused by ectoparasites in children

Mónica Alicia Galeano et al. Pediatr Radiol. 2025 May.

Abstract

Ectoparasites affect the skin, causing different clinical manifestations through direct mechanical damage, blood consumption, pathogen transmission, hypersensitivity reactions, or toxin inoculation. Dermatological ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate these superficial lesions, detecting submillimetric alterations in a non-invasive and innocuous way. This review helps the radiologist describe the imaging findings of lesions caused by mosquitoes, myiasis, bees, spiders, and scorpions, with suggestive ultrasound patterns.

Keywords: Bees; Child; Culicidae; Myasis; Scorpions; Spiders; Ultrasonography.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflicts of interest: We, the authors, declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest that could be construed as influencing the results or interpretation of this study.

References

    1. PAHO (2020) Ectoparasitic diseases in the region of the Americas: development of a roadmap to determine the regional epidemiological situation and identify actions to reduce the impact. Meeting report (Belo Horizonte, Brazil, July 29–30, 2019). Washington, D.C. License: CC BY-NCSA 3.0 IGO
    1. de Roodt AR, Lanari LC, Casas N et al (2017) Accidentes y muertes por animales venenosos en Argentina durante el período 2000–2011. Accidents and deaths from poisonous animals in Argentina during the period 2000–2011 INSPILIP, 1–25
    1. Degolier SD (2023) Pediatric injuries and toxic exposures. Burns’ Pediatric Primary Care-e-book 25:353–356
    1. Catalano O, Varelli C, Sbordone C et al (2020) A bump: what to do next? Ultrasound imaging of superficial soft-tissue palpable lesions. J Ultrasound 23:287–300 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Garcia C, Wortsman X, Bazaes-Nuñez D et al (2022) Skin sonography in children: a review. Pediatr Radiol 52:1687–1705 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources