A mysterious skin disease called “Morgellons disease” still bothers doctors and scientists. Despite many studies and hypotheses, it is still unknown what causes it – and whether such a disease exists at all. Maybe it’s just a symptom of a mental disorder or the effect of collective hysteria?
A half-million-dollar study by the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) found no medical explanation for the mysterious and controversial skin condition known as “Morgellons’ disease.” People who suffer from it feel as if something is crawling on or under their skin. Other symptoms are skin changes and fibers growing out of the skin.
While the conclusion of the CDC study may not reassure those who say they have this strange condition, CDC’s Mark Eberhard said it was very useful to conduct it. They show both patients and doctors that the disease is very rare, he says, and is neither contagious nor caused by environmental factors.
The research was undertaken due to the great public interest, which dates back to 2002. The topic attracted media attention, and people suffering from the alleged disease reported it on the Internet. The similarity to other ailments, such as Ekbom’s syndrome or an imaginary invasion of parasites, has been pointed out.
“We’ve had a lot of inquiries about this strange condition and reports from people claiming they have it,” said Eberhard, who heads the CDC’s parasitic disease department. – It was clear that these people were suffering for some reason. The question is, what could it be?
The survey was conducted among 3,2 million people from 13 northern California counties in 2006-2008. Scientists identified 115 patients who reported fibers or other solid materials exiting the skin as well as damage to the skin or the sensation that something was crawling on or under the skin, ‘according to an article recently published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Doctors said the condition was rare, reported only by 3,65 percent. patients. The majority of patients were white (77%) and women (77%), the average age was 52 years. 70 percent patients described the material emerging from their skin as fibers. The others talked about specks, granules, dots, worms, sand, eggs, hairy balls, and larvae.
However, scientists found no evidence of this. Dermatologists found fibers at the edges or in scabs, not in healthy skin. Upon examination, they turned out to be cotton or polyester fibers, and in a few cases, possibly residual nail polish.
“We can say unequivocally that they were not living things,” says Eberhard.
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As director of the department of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Jason Reichenberg points out, the report confirms what anyone who has ever seen a person with this condition knows – that these patients are suffering greatly, and their suffering is real. So the sick should not be taken lightly.
“It’s something that needs to be treated,” says Reichenberg, who will lead a session on the subject at an upcoming dermatologist convention in San Diego. – It is really important to discuss other approaches to the disease. Until the exact cause or cure is found, it is important to try to alleviate their suffering.
The damage to the skin did not appear to be caused by external forces, but mostly by scratches or abrasions. They only appeared where the injured person could reach. For example, when lesions appeared on the back, they had a typical dumbbell shape, corresponding to the reach of the arm.
Many sufferers have had other health problems: 70 percent. reported chronic fatigue, and 54 percent. described their overall health as satisfactory or not very good. Many also had high levels of concern for their health. In 50 percent Based on the study of hair samples, researchers found evidence of drug use. For comparison, national studies have shown that drugs are currently consumed by 8,9%. population. However, Eberhard cautions that high drug levels may be linked to efforts made by sufferers to alleviate symptoms.
“There is no doubt that something was adversely affecting patients’ quality of life,” says Eberhard. He hopes that his research will allow doctors and patients to find the most appropriate way to help patients with this mysterious ailment together.
Text: Elizabeth Wise
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