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'''Morgellons''' or '''Morgellons disease''' is the name for a polysymptomatic . Morgellons symptoms include skin lesions which can be anything from minor to disfiguring in their appearance, sensations of crawling and biting on and under the skin, and the appearance of fibers and granules coming out of the skin. According to statistics from the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF), the majority (95%) of affected patients also report symptoms of disabling fatigue and self-described "brain fog" or problems with attention. Patients also report a high incidence (50%) of fibromyalgia, joint pain, and sleep disorders. Other symptoms include hair loss, decline in vision, neurological disorders and disintegration of teeth in the absence of caries or gingivitis. Most patients are unable to continue working, and those who are able to continue working report that they do not function optimally. Many patients become socially isolated, either because they have become disfigured by the disease or because they are concerned about spreading it. The suffering caused by this disease is enormous.
'''Morgellons''' or '''Morgellons disease''' is a controversial name for an alleged polysymptomatic ] characterized by ] finding ] on their ], which they believe are related to other ], including intense ], ] ], as well as a wide range of other chronic symptoms. These symptoms are occasionally accompanied by the belief in an infestation by some unknown ] or ]. The term ''Morgellons'' is not in accepted use by the medical community and the syndrome is widely held by the medical community to be a type of ]. There is no agreed-upon physical cause, ], diagnostic criteria or proven treatment. Pressure from patients, including doctors and nurses who claim to have a host of difficult symptoms, resulted in a ] ] statement from the federal ] that it had begun organizing a committee for the purpose of investigating Morgellons to determine whether it exists.

The term ''Morgellons'' is not yet in accepted use by the medical community. There is no agreed-upon physical cause, ], diagnostic criteria or proven treatment. In ] ] the federal ] began organizing a committee for the purpose of investigating Morgellons.


==Origin of name==
The name ''Morgellons'' was coined in ] by ] of ], while investigating her son's unexplained rash. <ref name="pop"> Benjamin Chertoff, ], June 2005.
</ref> She named the condition ''Morgellons'' (with a hard ''g''), after a condition from the monograph ''A Letter to a Friend'' by Sir ], in ], wherein he describes several medical conditions in his experience, including ''that endemial ] of children in ], called the morgellons, wherein they critically break out with harsh hairs on their backs.'' <ref name="browne"> Sir Thomas Browne, ].</ref> A ] paper by British doctor C.E. Kellett identifies the name ''morgellons'' with the ] term ''masclous'', or "little flies". <ref name="kellett"> , By C.E. Kellett, M.D., M.R.C.P., Annals of Medical History, n.s., VII (1935), 467–479</ref> It is doubtful that the ] disease has anything to do with modern day Morgellons; however, the similarities were such that Leitao elected to use the name as a consistent label when addressing politicians, physicians and health departments.<!--According to whom?-->


==Morgellons Research Foundation== ==Morgellons Research Foundation==


Leitao, who has a ] ] in ] from the ] at Boston <ref></ref> and has worked as a ], formed the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF) in 2002. The Morgellons Research Foundation ] states: "''This ] ] is dedicated to finding the cause of an emerging infectious disease, which mimics ] and ].''" The foundation attempts to raise public awareness of Morgellons via ] and press campaigns. They are conducting limited research into the cause of the symptoms. They also conduct letter writing campaigns to the U.S. Congress, urging that Morgellons be taken seriously. <ref name="mrf_letter"></ref> Leitao, who has a ] ] in ] from the ] at Boston <ref></ref> and has worked as a ], formed the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF) in 2002. The Morgellons Research Foundation ] states: "''This ] ] is dedicated to finding the cause of an emerging infectious disease, which mimics ] and ].''" The foundation attempts to raise public awareness of Morgellons via ] and press campaigns. They are conducting research into the cause of the symptoms. <ref name="mrf_letter"></ref>


==Preliminary Research Findings==
In ] 2006 the Morgellons Research Foundation was featured in a number of local TV news segments coordinated by the MRF's director of communications. <ref name="mrf_media"></ref> This resulted in a significant rise in the public awareness of the term Morgellons. Earlier, in February 2005, a report on a local ] affiliate in ], ], prompted the Duval County Health Department (DCHD) to investigate. Their report concludes:


Dr. Wymore of the Oklahoma State University recruited two Oklahoma State faculty physicians who tweezed fibers from beneath the skin of some Morgellons patients. The samples were sent to the Tulsa Police Department’s forensic laboratory. The police checked the samples against carpet and clothing fibers and other materials, and conducted chemical analyses and other tests, and found no matches against any fiber in their databases. However, the fibers taken from the Morgellons patients matched each other. These facts strongly support that the fibers are generated from within the patients as part of a disease process. Careful examination of the fibers further revealed that they are associated with hair follicles and may be composed of cellulose.
: '' it was determined after extensive reviewing of these articles that Morgellons Disease is synonymous with delusional parasitosis (CDC, 1999). ''
: ''DCHD Epidemiology consulted a pediatric dermatologist within the health department for his professional opinion. It was concluded that this is a ] condition that has been mentioned in literature for hundreds of years.'' <ref name="duval3"> Zaheer, et al, Duval County Health Department Epidemiology Program report. September, 2005.</ref>


Dr. Citovsky of SUNY Stonybrook has also conducted some preliminary research on Morgellons. Preliminary findings indicate that Agrobacterium was found in the cells of Morgellons patients and may be involved in the etiology and /or progression of Morgellons disease. Pathogenic Agrobacterium is known to produce cellulose fibers at infection sties within host tissues and is commonly used in biotechnology to genetically alter plants. Preliminary findings indicate that Agrobacterium was found in the cells of Morgellons patients. In a CNN interview, Dr. Citovsky stated, "when I look into the skin of these Morgellons patients, I see DNA from something that could only come from a plant." Agrobacterium may very well be the pathogen that distinguishes Morgellons disease. If these results are confirmed, it would be the first example of a plant-infecting bacterium playing a role in human disease. Dr. Citovsky has received numerous additional samples from Morgellons patients, but due to a lack of funding, cannot test these samples at this time. They have applied for a grant from the National Institute of Heath to perform this work.
The DCHD report notes that there was a significant spike in reported cases after the news report and that "''this is attributed to the airing of Fox News’ coverage of the illness and is not a true cluster of disease.''" <ref name="duval2"> Zaheer, et al, Duval County Health Department Epidemiology Program report. September, 2005.</ref>


Many patients with Morgellons disease have positive Western blots for Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. It appears that there may be a connection between the two diseases.
In response to the May 2006 TV coverage, the ] Department of Health services issued a statement that
:''No credible medical or public health association has verified the existence or diagnosis of "Morgellons Disease." The current description of the disease is vague and covers many conditions. Until there is a credible, national standard for the diagnosis of this condition, there is no basis for making it a reportable disease.'' <ref name="ladhs">, Los Angeles Department of Health Services, May 2006</ref>


Morgellons has been featured many times recently in the news media. It was also discussed in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology: The Mystery of Morgellons Disease: Savely VR, Leitao MM, Stricker RB. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2006;7 (1):1-5
===MRF troubled by controversy===
Three of the eight board members of the organization resigned in August 2006 over disagreements with Leitao over the treatment of charitable contributions to the organization, including former chairman Charles Holman, physician Greg Smith, and researcher Randy Wymore. <ref name="chico-aug14"> Chico Harlan, Pittsburg Post-Gazette, August 14, 2006.</ref>


Smith, a ] from ], had recently posted a donations-soliciting letter for the MRF. He has since posted a retraction and stated: ''"I cannot in good faith ask anyone to contribute to the foundation."''<ref name="MW-Smith"> Morgellons Watch, August 2nd, 2006.
</ref>


Wymore, an Oklahoma State University assistant professor of pharmacology and MRF's director of research, has also resigned and distanced himself from the organization. He has stated that ''"The research I'm doing is not affected by this."''

==Symptoms==
The symptoms are frequently characterized as ]es or non-healing skin ], associated with unusual structures on or under the skin that look like granules and filaments, and in particular a burning or itching sensation as if small parasites are crawling on or under the skin.

According to the Morgellons Research Foundation, most sufferers test positive for ] (borreliosis).

Some sufferers complain of seeing insects flying in and out of their skin (considered by some to be a possible secondary infection in existing lesions of unknown cause), while others say they have filaments or fibers growing out of their skin. Some of these fibers are microscopic, while others are so large that they can be seen growing with the naked eye. The fibers range in color, some being white, blue, black or red, and are often dismissed by doctors as ]. It is also noted that widespread reports of skin fibers only date back to the time they were described at a Morgellons website. <ref name="pop"/>

Sufferers often complain of ], ], and ] difficulty that may impair work performance.

The Morgellons Research Foundation states that the ''"troubling sensations and accompanying physical structures"'' are the most consistent symptoms.

==Differential diagnoses==

The symptoms of patients presenting with Morgellons are varied, and may match several other medical conditions. Frequently these symptoms may then be ] as any of a number of conditions including:

* ] - an infestation of the mite ''Sarcoptes scabei''.
* ] - an infestation of parasitic insects.
* ] or ] - a common skin condition with various causes including ].
* ] - Eczema or other skin condition exacerbated by scratching
* ] - A fungal infection of the skin or hair.
* ] - An infection of the hair follicles.
* ] - A skin infection.
* ] - A condition due to over-active sebaceous glands
* ] - A rash caused by bacterial infection
* ] - Obsessive picking at ones own skin.
* ] ] - from use, overuse, or withdrawal.

If a specific complaint is not identified, the doctor could diagnose a ] (MUPS) syndrome, such as ] or ]. Diagnosis of MUPS is seldom a satisfactory situation for the patient, as many patients feel this implies it is "all in their head." This can lead to an adversarial doctor-patient relationship, <ref name="engel2002"> Engel, et al. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol 110, Nu. S4, August 2002.</ref> which can develop into an ] ], thus complicating the situation.

Doctors do not offer a diagnosis of Morgellons. While sufferers often initially present with a self-diagnosis, they also continue to self-diagnose after conventional treatments for the medical diagnosis seem not to be working, or after they refuse to accept the diagnosis. At this point the patient is sometimes diagnosed with ].


==Delusional parasitosis== ==Delusional parasitosis==


Presentations of Morgellons are sometimes misdiagnosed as ].
Presentations of Morgellons are frequently diagnosed as ]. The symptoms of delusional parasitosis are very similar to those presented by a Morgellons sufferer who rejects conventional diagnosis of their symptoms, or who presents a belief in the existence of an organism that cannot be observed except by the patient. There is no agreed upon differential diagnosis since Morgellons is not an accepted medical condition.

In her article ''Delusory Parasitosis'', Nancy C. Hinkle <ref name="hinkle"> ''Nancy C. Hinkle'', American Entomologist, vol 46, number 1. ] ].</ref> outlines thirteen indications attributed to delusional parasitosis, many of which are shared by patients claiming to have Morgellons. These indications include:

* The presentation of physical evidence such as skin scrapings and debris
* Obsessive cleaning and use of disinfectants and insecticides
* Rejection of the possibility of psychological or other explanations
* Emotional trauma, desperation, social isolation
* Having seen numerous physicians, to no avail

The belief that fibers are emerging from their skin is still present in these patients. This belief is generally regarded by doctors as either delusional or a result of simply mistaking fibers from clothing (lint) as fibers emerging from the body. <ref name="mullen"> ''Frank X. Mullen Jr'', Reno Gazette-Journal, May 8, 2005.</ref> One doctor, declining to be named for a news article, indicated that he treats patients simply by placing a cast over the affected area of skin, protecting it from the patient's scratching, which results in healing in a matter of weeks. <ref name="pop"/> This lends weight to the theory that perceived skin abnormalities interpreted as the manifestation of Morgellons are a side-effect of habitual scratching.

==Morgellons theories and research==

No clinical studies have yet been done into Morgellons. Only one paper mentioning Morgellons has been published in a medical journal; the paper was co-authored by the founder of the Morgellons Research Foundation and other MRF members. <ref name="mystery"> Savely, Leitao & Stricker, American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2006, 7(1): 1–5.</ref>

William Harvey of ], chairman of the MRF, champions the disease as real, probably related to ], and claims success in treating it with antibiotics.{{fact}}

George Schwartz of ], ] initially believed the cause may be the bacterium '']'', and has claimed success in treating patients with antibiotics that target this waterborne bacterium. <ref name="pop"/> . He now believes it is a parasitic infection. In his booklet "Lisa's Disease, A Fiber Disease", he describes four stages to this condition. Stage four places body organs in jeopardy. Schwartz also treated patients with anti-worm medication and ]. <ref name="fnm"> ''Wendy Brown'', Free New Mexican, Decemeber 14, 2005</ref>. He says it is "a modern day plague which silently grows within the host and after weeks may explode into cavernous, thread- bearing skin lesions, and can extrude eggs and larvae" and is "a highly contagious, world-wide epidemic which will soon reach a critical mass". He has developed a treatment plan for the early stages <ref name="morgTreat"> Dr. George Schwartz, ], August 2006</ref>. In August, 2006 he published a new book describing this disease and treatment plans.<ref name="schwartzBook"> August 2006</ref>
Randy S. Wymore of the ] ] in ], ] is conducting research into Morgellons. He has examined the fibers, scabs and other samples from Morgellons patients. To date, Wymore's preliminary research has no conclusive results.

Wymore believes {{fact}} that in 2006 formal studies with Morgellons patients will begin. The Morgellons Research Foundation has recently published a Case Definition for physicians.

A station KENS 5 Eyewitness News report published on the web on July 25, 2006{{fact}} cites an anecdotal report that certain 'fibers' extracted from under a patient's skin moved and 'intertwined' of their own volition.




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] ]
] ]]

Revision as of 23:10, 27 October 2006

Morgellons or Morgellons disease is the name for a polysymptomatic . Morgellons symptoms include skin lesions which can be anything from minor to disfiguring in their appearance, sensations of crawling and biting on and under the skin, and the appearance of fibers and granules coming out of the skin. According to statistics from the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF), the majority (95%) of affected patients also report symptoms of disabling fatigue and self-described "brain fog" or problems with attention. Patients also report a high incidence (50%) of fibromyalgia, joint pain, and sleep disorders. Other symptoms include hair loss, decline in vision, neurological disorders and disintegration of teeth in the absence of caries or gingivitis. Most patients are unable to continue working, and those who are able to continue working report that they do not function optimally. Many patients become socially isolated, either because they have become disfigured by the disease or because they are concerned about spreading it. The suffering caused by this disease is enormous.

The term Morgellons is not yet in accepted use by the medical community. There is no agreed-upon physical cause, etiology, diagnostic criteria or proven treatment. In June 2006 the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began organizing a committee for the purpose of investigating Morgellons.


Morgellons Research Foundation

Leitao, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and has worked as a chemist, formed the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF) in 2002. The Morgellons Research Foundation website states: "This non-profit foundation is dedicated to finding the cause of an emerging infectious disease, which mimics scabies and lice." The foundation attempts to raise public awareness of Morgellons via web and press campaigns. They are conducting research into the cause of the symptoms.

Preliminary Research Findings

Dr. Wymore of the Oklahoma State University recruited two Oklahoma State faculty physicians who tweezed fibers from beneath the skin of some Morgellons patients. The samples were sent to the Tulsa Police Department’s forensic laboratory. The police checked the samples against carpet and clothing fibers and other materials, and conducted chemical analyses and other tests, and found no matches against any fiber in their databases. However, the fibers taken from the Morgellons patients matched each other. These facts strongly support that the fibers are generated from within the patients as part of a disease process. Careful examination of the fibers further revealed that they are associated with hair follicles and may be composed of cellulose.

Dr. Citovsky of SUNY Stonybrook has also conducted some preliminary research on Morgellons. Preliminary findings indicate that Agrobacterium was found in the cells of Morgellons patients and may be involved in the etiology and /or progression of Morgellons disease. Pathogenic Agrobacterium is known to produce cellulose fibers at infection sties within host tissues and is commonly used in biotechnology to genetically alter plants. Preliminary findings indicate that Agrobacterium was found in the cells of Morgellons patients. In a CNN interview, Dr. Citovsky stated, "when I look into the skin of these Morgellons patients, I see DNA from something that could only come from a plant." Agrobacterium may very well be the pathogen that distinguishes Morgellons disease. If these results are confirmed, it would be the first example of a plant-infecting bacterium playing a role in human disease. Dr. Citovsky has received numerous additional samples from Morgellons patients, but due to a lack of funding, cannot test these samples at this time. They have applied for a grant from the National Institute of Heath to perform this work.

Many patients with Morgellons disease have positive Western blots for Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. It appears that there may be a connection between the two diseases.

Morgellons has been featured many times recently in the news media. It was also discussed in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology: The Mystery of Morgellons Disease: Savely VR, Leitao MM, Stricker RB. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2006;7 (1):1-5


Delusional parasitosis

Presentations of Morgellons are sometimes misdiagnosed as delusional parasitosis.


New CDC investigation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are launching a study of Morgellons disease: "We're going into this with an open mind," said Dan Rutz, spokesman for the CDC Morgellons task force that first met in June 2006.

"The 12-person CDC task force includes two pathologists, a toxicologist, an ethicist, a mental health expert and specialists in infectious, parasitic, environmental and chronic disease. The group is developing a case definition of Morgellons."

See also

References

  1. Delusions of Parasitosis versus Morgellons Disease: Are They One and the Same?
  2. Morgellons research Foundation, Letter to Congress
  3. "CDC considers Texas for Morgellons study", My San Antonio News, posted Jun 26, 2006, accessed Jun 26, 2006.
  4. CDC investigates whether bizarre Morgellons condition is real or imagined.

External links


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