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plos.org
A patient shows the scarring scabs attributed to the odd skin disease Morgellons, in which victims say fibers and other material extrudes from sores on their skin.
A strange disease in which sufferers say they find fibers, fuzz and other debris sprouting from sores on their skin is not contagious and has no clear cause, the largest-ever study of the condition called Morgellons has found.
Government health officials on Wednesday released the results of a four-year, nearly $600,000 review that found no infectious or environmental link to Morgellons, which reportedly plagues thousands of people in the United States and other countries.
“It’s a negative, but it really limits and narrows down the field of possibilities,” said Mark L. Eberhard, director of the division of parasitic diseases and malaria at the Centers for Disease Control and Infection. “By removing a couple of the big players -- infections and the environment -- that still leaves some wide-open territory about what could be the causes.”
The new study should reassure sufferers who worried about infecting family and friends, he added.
Researchers studied 115 people who reported Morgellons-like symptoms from the Kaiser Permanente health system in Northern California from July 2006 to June 2008, amounting to a rate of 3.6 cases of the disorder per 100,000 people. They conducted extensive interviews, tested patients' blood and urine, and studied biopsies of skin samples. It’s considered the first detailed, population-based analysis of “unexplained dermopathy,” which is how researchers describe Morgellons.
The CDC and Kaiser Permanente initiated the study in January 2008, after CDC officials received hundreds of calls and e-mails about an odd, fiber-sprouting skin disease. By the time the study was launched, the agency had heard from some 1,200 people. The mysterious disorder was dubbed Morgellons in 2002 by a Pennsylvania mother of a toddler who reportedly suffered from the disorder first identified in 17th century France.
But scientists writing in the journal PLoS ONE also found nothing remarkable about the threads and fuzzballs patients reported emerging from lesions on their skin, which laboratory analysis showed were cotton or other fibers, possibly from clothing. They also couldn’t explain the creepy-crawling, tingling or pins-and-needles feeling that many sufferers said they experienced before rashes, sores and ulcers emerged. No parasites or mycobacteria were detected.
The scientists suggested that Morgellons victims may suffer from a condition similar to “delusional infestation,” in which people imagine bugs or other critters invading their bodies.
“No common underlying medical condition or infectious source was identified,” wrote Eberhard and his colleagues.
But people who believe they suffer from Morgellons said that was exactly the result they expected from a government agency trying to cover up a larger problem.
“I’m pretty sure they’ll say we’re all delusional,” said Jan Smith, 62, a Concord, N.H. woman who runs the website “Morgellons Exposed,”which details her 15-year battle with the perplexing disorder. Her theories include fears that Morgellons is caused by alien beings implanting nano-technology in humans.
“There’s so much more to this than a medical condition,” Smith said. “There’s something being hidden.”
Betsy Curry, 65, of Palm Bay, Fla., said she has endured sores and scabs all over her body for eight years, lesions that she said have extruded threads or fluff. She didn’t expect the government report to offer any more help than the dermatologists and other doctors who dismissed her complaints.
“I’ve had years of doctors telling me something was wrong with me, I was crazy, I was too fat,” said Curry, whose condition was described on Inspire, an online support community.
“After eight years, it’s just something I accept.”
Morgellons sufferers were mostly white, middle-aged women, more than half of whom reported they were in poor health, the study showed. Like Curry, about 70 percent of the victims also suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and more than 60 percent reported ongoing bodily aches and pains.
About 60 percent showed problems with cognitive functioning. About half had evidence of drugs in their system, including drugs to control pain, and nearly 80 percent reported exposure to solvents, the study showed. About 40 percent had skin lesions or abrasions that appeared to be caused by self-inflicted rubbing or scraping, researchers found.
But the study shouldn’t be interpreted to conclude that the problem is all in sufferers' heads, Eberhard stressed. Instead, it should be a baseline for future research and encouragement for patients and their doctors to work together, harder, to find a cause.
“These people are definitely suffering from something,” Eberhard said. “It has impacted their lives greatly.”
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I would be a lot more open to the medical community's claims that this is all just a delusion or mental illness if it were not for the fact that I have repeatedly seen this same blanket label thrown onto people suffering from real, physical conditions that their doctors were just too boneheaded to figure out. For example, my mother suffered for years with neurological problems, dry, cracked skin, hair loss and fatigue and was told the entire time that it was all just "stress" or that she had "anxiety". She was told that her symptoms were "completely normal" for a middle-aged housewife. In a couple of cases she had doctors yell at her telling her to stop wasting their time on her "obvious mental issues". As it turned out, she had been suffering from autoimmune thyroid disease for almost 15 years and it could have been easily diagnosed with a simple blood test if any of her previous doctors had bothered to look. She eventually found a doctor who took her symptoms seriously and within 6 months, with the proper treatment, her symptoms had all cleared up.
In the case of patients coming in with Morgellons-like symptoms, would it really be so hard to to say to them, "I'm not convinced that the source of the fibres is in or under your skin, but I *do* believe that your symptoms are real and debilitating. Let's try x, y and z and see if that helps." X, y and z could be anything from anti-anxiety medications to skin ointments to asking the patient to change environmental things at home or it could include testing for things such as autoimmune disorders or allergies, depending on the symptoms presented by the patient. And you never know, there might just be some underlying, physical condition causing the other symptoms. The point is to not brush off the patient's concerns as being figments of their imagination. If they are bothered enough by their symptoms to take the time to come in to see you it's probably already having a significant impact on their lives. And if it does turn out to be a mental health issue you will have built up the required trust with the patient for them to be willing to listen to you and follow the appropriate treatments. That won't happen if all the patient is hearing is, "it's all in your head, stop wasting my time."
The "it's all in your head" diagnosis is easy money. Doctors get paid once you walk into the examination room. They bill your insurance no matter how long they spend with you or how little of use they are. They also get kickbacks to prescribe brand name drugs, and depression and anxiety medications are at the top of the list since they're no better than placebos at treating the supposed condition in the first place. Morgellons is real, I've seen patients with it. 15 cops in LA came down with the illness after kicking homeless people out of an empty building and cleaning out the building. It's scary to see and I kept my distance from the person, but they had slides that had been sent to a lab showing the fibers not only in skin but inside their stomach tissue which was taken by a GNT for biopsy.
Dogs and cats suffer from Morgellons also.
Hello......could we get CDC's name correct...it's the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not Infection.
Numerous studies are showing Morgellons patients all have antibodies to the Actinobacteria used to do the gene transfer in creating GMO foods. The CDC simply chooses to look the other way. These bacteria are used by plants to regrow cellulose and fiber strands for the plant structure, this is exactly what's being seen in the Morgellons patients with the fibers. If the CDC and mainstream medicine were interested in helping patients they'd open their eyes and do research and read the research that's been done, instead they're interested in kissing up to the next person up the heirarchy to further their careers and the entire establishment is funded by pharma and then the FDA has half their staff holding conflicts of interest with biotech.
Did anyone read the link in the article?
Just look at those pics and it's very obvious that Morgellons is a real biological disease. Those fibers are clearly biological, not to mention the damn insects in some pics.
"Clothing fibers" is a silly excuse.
The disease is not understood so people assume it doesn't exist. Which doesn't help anything.
All you people yelling that it's not real, are in denial that you don't know what it is, either! You don't know that it does or doesn't exist, so stop pretending you know what you're talking about!
Also, a million ignorant skeptics don't hold the truth of just one of the people suffering the disease. I trust them a lot more than ignorant skeptics, sitting at their PC's and pretending they know about things they've never seen!
Disease-sufferers are convinced it's a biological disease, and I believe them much more than all you skeptics who have never seen it.
I believe ALL the legitimate medical professionals, none of whom have seen it.
Sonic the Hedgehog has a fox friend with two tails named Miles Prower. Did you know that Miles?
Also has anyone heard of Agent Orange. The troops sprayed it everywhere in Vietnam, then got sick for the rest of their lives. The government denied it even existed for DECADES.
The government actually does hide information for decades.
But you guys trust them that Morgellons doesn't exist, or that they don't know what it is! Anyone can look at those pics and tell that it's obviously a biological disease!
Dioxin was the main chemical in Agent Orange a defoliant used in Vietnam to destroy jungle and deny cover for enemy activity, also used in US by Forest Service to kill weeds and brush, there is a town that was evacuated due to high levels of dioxin.
Don't methamphetamine users pick at their skin and scabs because they are hallucinating?? Sure looks like meth use to me. Haven't seen any aliens lately.
I can see why doctors historically make progress very slowly, having clear out the mental isses illustrated by typical patient comments supplimented by internet self sourcing will only increase cost.
Getting down to basics:
It is thought to be instinctive to reach and scratch following an itch. We are equipped with finger nail tools used to scratch an itch.
At the very basic level; having nerves and then using those nerves to detect a foreign presence and initiating a scratch.
Human primates groups have evolved grooming to remove creatures seeking a food source, us being tasty.
Omissions from Study:
The published study as far as I can read, did not mention, virus that are known to affect nerves and/or skin virus.
More Basics:
Since the nerves are itch-detectors, feeling an itch invokes the natural tendency to investigate it, rub the fingers over the area and as often as we may expect to issue a perfunctory scratch.
It will have gone without notice that human primate skin is often without substantial hair covering, those areas having hair seem likely to have a protective role. While our primitive ancestors developed grooming as means of controlling infestation it should not be without notice that group bonding plays role that could have developed more of the characteristic human persona. None of these inherited attributes has come into disuse, thus inherited to the present day. The itch/scratch paradigm seemingly cyclic, looping and self-reinforcing, would from suffer from defective itch-detecting nerve activation (detector failed, no signal, false signal, inverted signal). Failing to scratch when needed, would not aggravate the condition, whereas repeated scratching, will damage skin and further activate nerve firings.
Omissions from Study:
The investigation excludes the DNA to detect any Herpes Virus.
The one thing known about these viruses is they live suppressed in the nerve cells until something compromises the immune system. After the episode has healed, the virus invades the new nerve cells and lies waiting the next opportunity. Thus the chicken pox you had as a child often reappears in later life as shingles, and no doubt cold sores habitually breaking out on any excuse (cold, coughing allergies, sun burn, too many tomatoes).
The nerves basically save the virus for the next affair, supporting the need to document this frequent source of know causes.
The pre-outbreak tingling feeling is no doubt likely to attract the attention of scratch that scratch then causes the next scratch and nearly all the symptoms described.
Symptoms in Common:
Broken skin – itches, Scratched skin – itches, weeping skin itches, dry skin – itches, peeling skin – itches, scabs – itches.
Common Sense Practical Actions:
Since the virus causes occurs repeatedly and are unlikely to be cured, some symptoms often yield to some form of simple controls, to break the itch – scratch cycle. Looking before you itch, rub before you scratch, apply palliative medication just to remind yourself that you have an itch-scratch problem the needs control. Babies sometimes have to have mittens to help break the cycle. Self-observations and odd rituals to limit occurrences can be useful methods to break the cycle, but are no less odd that watching the syndrome grown into a problem.
But remember if you cannot control the scratch the itch can easily grow worse, chronic, multifaceted and unyielding to time consuming analysis.
Suggestions for Study:
To build on this study, it should be enhance to include the obvious omissions given the developing technology, eliminating bacterial causes seem complete, but well known viral causes, well know and similar occurrences, and well known basics need to addressed by being included and not left entirely out.
All this silly wailing and gnashing of teeth over Morgellon's, and all along who knew RichMJones had the answer right here? It's herpes!! Yes, all you crazy people who think you're seeing things coming out of your skin are completely delusional because it's OBVIOUSLY herpes. I bet no doctor in any country has thought to test for that. Oh, and Rich if you just want to say, "Stop scratching your itches until they bleed and turn into sores," no need to add a lot of techno-sounding mumble jumble. Plain English works fine, thanks.
PS I'm a big fan of Internet research before showing up in the doctor's office, Rich. Often, they are pleasantly suprised to find I've already exhausted "at-home" conservative options before I show up looking for medical help. I'd rather be a pro-active part of my own care than trust it all to the doctors, who tend to be Big Pharma pawns anyway.
Please, most morgellons patients are suffering from some form of mental disease...Ekbom's for example.
Are you saying Russian Professor, that this thee onset of incurable leprosy, because the United Nations have failed to extinquish it from vaccinations globally. It looks more like bed sores to me, or a new strain of herpes. If it's psychology, that would be nervous stigmata, from religious abuse, most often. My sister developed hives from a uncertain laundry detergent. I also notice itching from washing and drying my clothing, robbing me of the natural oils in my fair skin, that subsides after Winter and also after daily showers that make my skin scaly and unmanageable. Good old-fashioned sweat and replenished skin, seems to revive me from cotton fibers that mutate in detergent and in the dryer, that sap me of elasticity. I like Lanacane and Cocoa Butter and Number Four Coppertone Suntan Lotion (If you can find it) for a more natural glowing skin. Cold and excessively dry clothes is like "freezer-burn" to thin skinned people. I also hear Vitamin E can help, whether ingested or ointment. There are just too many drying agents out there!
mEnTaL hEaLtH dEfIcIeNcy!
For all of you decrying the mental problem diagnosis as money grubbing by doctors: tell it to the drug companies. If this was a physical malady, they would be all over it.
The ONLY fibers collected by LEGITIMATE, VERIFIABLE means have proven themselves to be cotton, or other such clothing-related material, none of which can be produced by a human's body, regardless of condition. These people are SELF DIAGNOSED - there is no such medical condition.
I love the nanites from aliens explination, it shows that these people ARE crazy and probably iching themselves until they get sores. Really, if aliens are smart enough to get here, and implant nanites into you, I am sure they would not make defective nanites....
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I have seen marks that like like bites, rashes, bright red lines just under the skin, cotton like "fluff", black spots, and white string-like puss on 2 people who's house was over run by mold/fungus. After living with a constant exposure to spores their immune system had enough and they started getting very sick. It was completely missed by all the doctors and hospitals they went to. They were told they were mental ill.
By buying some Home Depot mold kits we found out mold was present in a very clean beautiful house that had no mold visible. Nor was there any water leaks apparent. The water from the dishwasher discharge hose was hidden and going under the tile flooring and cabinets. It went across the kitchen and up into walls. When we tore out the walls, we found water lines and mold almost 5' up. After removal and treatment of the whole house (washing walls and ceilings and everything in between with simple green and finishing off with ozone shock treatment machines) their symptoms were gone within weeks.
For anyone who is suffering from what they believe to be "Morgellions" please try doing some air samples and test for mold. You can buy these kits for under $10. Mold is bizarre and will grow on and in you once your immune system is compromised. You will get sick. You will die. I saw "fiber like" things on my family members skin and hair, along with other stuff. It was and is awful, but by finding and removing the mold and infected material, you can recover your life and regain your health.
Just be prepared for months of cleaning and throwing out of things. Check the humidity of the house, look everywhere for water leaks. A small drip that is constant is all spores need to grow into mold. Spores are everywhere but they need water and darkness and food to grow. Food can be plaster, mortar, grout, paint, paper, wood, or the inside of your body. Look in your attic and basement walls. Look everywhere for the leaks or water entry. If you don't find and stop it the mold will just grow back.
I hope this helps someone who is suffering though this, like my famly members did while being rediculed by doctors and nurses.
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Does anyone now how many of the Morgellon patients have Silicone implants? I had a ruptured breast implants for many years and I got these symptoms, as did my child (had the child after I got the implants).
I got rid of the symptoms after the removal of implants. I do think this is some kind of autoimmune to some chemical. I know of a tumor taken out of a patient with breast implants and it had the same look as some of the material coming from my son, only bigger.
I also want to advise people to read about Dermoid Cyst. Has any doctor looked into some complications regarding Dermoid Cyst?
And I have also heard of individuals with same symptoms get the diagnose Scleroderma.
There are all kinds of chemicals being put in the human body like breast implants, Pacemaker, tooth fillings, Hip Replacement and so on. All kinds of material like Teflon (Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware.
In few occasions the material from skin has been identified as being Silicone.
Why is this disease a mystery? I think it's because they really don't want to know it's reason. It would proof the ugly fact that most of these new diseases are results of metals, radiation and other environmental exposures.
It is sad that we usually have to become wiser after the damage is done. We are being exposed to all kinds of chemicals in our environment, food, cosmetics and drugs when there is not much known about their impact on our health. Even in some cases the risk is known but you are not told. But I have to say that it is pure evil to judge people crazy just because they don't know that they are dealing with. For that should be easy to learn from history. A doctor who is not aware of the fact how little he really knows can not be a really good doctor. Because the more knowledge the doctor has the more he will be aware of how little he knows.
Thank you BBBPhd, I am seeing this syndrome first hand in my spouse, who is not delusional, who is healthy, who has been to many docters, dermatologists, etc. It started a year ago after having the house sprayed for bed bugs. In hindsight I believe their never were any bugs, but to apaise her crawling sensations we had it done anyway. We're now trying natural remedies to see if something in nature works. We may even move just to eliminate the enviromental aspect.
I have a question. has anyone who is suffering from this disease(morgellons) seen little parasitic flys anywhere in there home? Look on the CDC sight for Filariasis. It really looks to me lick a parasitic infection because i am suffering from this and am almost positive it is a parasitic infection! the cotton like substance being found is probably the dead microfilia. check out the pictures of the filarial infections! And the symptoms. There are about seven different kinds that can live in your skin , blood , intestines. Did the CDC go to anyones homes to do this study. In my home i keep finding these little black flys. Check it out.
Mr Cobra99, Please have your wife look at the site of the CDC. I to have these symptoms and i truly believe that it is a type of under the skin parasite(worm). They have medicine for it and i am going to push my doctor to try it. I would love to talk with your wife. i have had the symptoms for a least 3 yrs and Kaiser has just written me off as crazy. I have brought them samples of these little black gnats or flys that i keep finding in my home and at my work. and if you read the articles these worms are transmitted by little black flys. It is on the CDC website under parasites and health.
you will find this disease ,whooping cough and other disease's in immigrant communities in west and s.west
Looks like impetigo!!
Looks like Impetigo!
Sad but not surprised
"A physician would probably know the difference between "incised" and excised."
You got another one, Sad !
Nice shot!