What is Morgellons Disease?
The name, Morgellons Disease, was first coined in 2002 and comes from a condition with similar symptoms involving "black hairs" emerging from the skin of children that was documented in France in the 1600's. Although the disease was named in 2002, reports of "crawling" skin sensations accompanied by dark fibers under the skin, have been documented previously in multiple patients and continue to increase.
Patients whose complaints have been unheeded or who have been diagnosed with "delusions of parasitosis" are finally being listened to and reexamined by both the government and medical communities.
What are the symptoms of Morgellons?
- Filaments, fibers, granules, threads or black, speck-like materials in and on skin lesions and sometimes extruded from intact-appearing skin. Fibers have been reported in multiple colors including, white, blue, red, and black; their size is near microscopic.
- Crawling, biting or stinging sensations. Movement sensations, both beneath and on the skin surface. Areas can include any skin area but may be limited to the scalp, nasal passages, ear canals, face or on the legs (below the knees).
- Skin lesions, rashes or sores often with significant pain or itching (“hive-like”, or as “pimple-like” with or without a white center). Evidence of lesions persists visually for years.
- Muscular and joint pain. Pain is broad, and can include joints, muscles, tendons and connective tissue. Symptoms may include vascular and “pressure” headaches and/or back pain.
- Fatigue
- Short term memory loss
- Mental confusion
- Vision changes
- Gastrointestinal complaints - dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux, swallowing difficulty, and changes in bowel habits.
- Acute changes in skin texture and pigment.
- Hematological (blood work) abnormalities: low hemoglobin and hematocrit with abnormal red blood cell count and biochemical abnormalities, elevated blood glucose, insulin, calcium, and serum homocysteine, low serum potassium and magnesium.
- Bacteria and viral evidence in blood work - Borrelia (at least five species) and Babesia, (a single recently found gram negative bacterium), most herpes viruses, some strongly activated such as VZV and HHV-6, several mycology species (especially Tineas), parasites (species will be elaborated following PCR sequencing).
Who is affected?
- There are currently over 10,000 patients and their families affected by Morgellons symptoms.
- Morgellons symptoms have been reported in every US state and in 15 countries worldwide.
- In the United States - California, Texas and Florida are currently reporting the greatest patient populations.
What is the cause?
The cause of Morgellons is currently unknown.
How is Morgellons treated?
The most successful treatment to date is antibiotics, addressing infectious bacteria or protozoa.
Is Morgellons contagious?
The method of transmission is currently unknown. There have been multiple cases reported by families with several members reporting like symptoms.
What does the Morgellons CDC study involve?
To the relief of thousands of patients across the country, the Center For Disease Control (CDC) is initiating a one year study of up to 500 patients who have reported Morgellons symptoms.
As many cases are centered in the state of California, Kaiser Permanente of Northern California has been selected to run the study partnered with the CDC.
The study objectives are as follows:
- To determine clinical and epidemiologic features and factors of Morgellons.
- To assess the histopathology of skin biopsies from patients.
- To characterize the fibers and threads extracted from patients.
- To describe the geographic distribution of Morgellons reports.
- To estimate the rates of illness.
The study will be divided into to parts as follows:
- Part 1 – Will identify and recruit patients for the study and identify symptoms, factors and exposures
- Part 2 - Clinical evaluations will commence in multiple areas: dermatologic exams, general exams, mental health exams, skin biopsies and blood tests.
More information is readily available on the CDC website with a direct link to study information.
Sources:
Centers For Disease Control, Atlanta, GA
Morgellons Research Foundation
