Morgellons Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction:

Morgellons disease is a rare condition with symptoms including slow-healing lesions underneath or projecting from the skin. It is a psychiatric disorder where patients believe they were infected with a skin parasite. This condition may have a long history because individuals affected by this disease may have physiological responses to the presence of an infectious agent, such as Spirochetal (spiral-shaped bacteria) infections in humans, cattle, and dogs. Patients with Morgellons disease often report crawling, stinging, and burning sensations on their skin surface. These symptoms may be long-lasting and painful, affecting the quality of life. Some doctors may suggest that Morgellons disease is entirely a psychological problem.

What Is Morgellons Disease?

Morgellons disease is a skin condition in which thread-like fibers are seen under the skin. A patient may feel like crawling, biting, or stinging in this condition. It is also known as Morgellons syndrome. The intense itching and soreness associated with the condition can negatively impact a person's life.

What Are the Causes of Morgellons Disease?

The exact cause of Morgellons disease is unclear. One group believes it is utterly psychological, and the other says a pathogen causes it. However, in a clinical evaluation by analyzing skin and blood samples and reviewing the detailed medical history of each participant, they could not find a joint underlying medical or infectious agent.

Who Gets Morgellons Disease?

This disease is poorly characterized and is a mysterious skin condition. People reporting Morgellons disease include:

• Females.

• Those who are in their early and mid-50 years of age.

• Whites.

Physical symptoms of the patients may cause depression, and this was the most common finding seen in patients affected by Morgellons disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Morgellons Disease?

Morgellons disease is a rare skin disorder that shows the appearance of white, black, red, or blue fibers under the skin or protruding from the skin. The patient also developed slow-healing ulcers on the skin. The symptoms are listed below:

1. Difficulty in concentrating.

2. Memory problems.

3. Chronic or severe fatigue (tiredness).

4. Muscle and joint pain.

5. Neuropathy (nerve problem that causes pain, tingling, swelling, or muscle weakness).

6. Skin rashes or sores cause itching, depressed mood, and a crawling sensation on and under the skin, similar to insects moving, stinging, or biting.

7. Depression.

8. Anxiety.

9. Sleep disturbances.

How Is Morgellons Disease Diagnosed?

Testing blood and skin samples show signs of bacterial infection, which might involve Borrelia burgdorferi. People may develop secondary staphylococcal infections due to an open wound. Doctors may refer the patient to a psychiatrist for symptoms of depression or anxiety or a history of mental illness. This disease involves multiple tests. Hence, the diagnosis is based on physical examination and laboratory findings. Diagnosis is based on itchy skin conditions or infections. The other diagnostic methods are:

• Skin scraping for mycology.

• Skin biopsy for culture and histology.

• Blood tests to find out the other causes for the itch, erosions, and ulcers.

Asking for the patient's drug history is also important in diagnosing because some substances present in the drugs can induce compulsive skin picking.

What Is the Life Expectancy of a Patient With Morgellons Disease?

A person having this disease lives a typical life span according to their overall health. There is a higher risk of developing skin infections due to a pricking sensation on the skin. It is important to seek a doctor's help for effective treatment planning to prevent a skin infection.

When Should the Patient Consult the Doctor?

Patients can consult the doctor under the following circumstances:

• Open skin wounds with no apparent causes.

• Long-lasting skin wounds.

• Fibers embedded or protruding from their skin.

• Joint or muscle pain.

• Feeling extremely tired most days.

• Memory or concentration problems.

Is It Contagious?

Morgellons disease is not contagious. It is psychological and cannot spread from one person to another. However, they may have more physical causes, which could make them contagious. In addition, fibers present on the lesions are not like synthetic material but are formed from cells more profound in the skin.

What Is the Treatment of Morgellons Disease?

Morgellons disease deserves compassionate treatment options such as :

1. Maintaining a good relationship with a healthcare provider who listens to the patient's concerns and does the treatment by working with a multidisciplinary care team.

2. Be patient and look for the known conditions that point to evidence-based treatments considering the diagnosis of Morgellons disease.

3. Keep an open mind and discuss various symptoms with a healthcare provider so that he can recommend treatment options, including long-term mental health therapy.

4. Seek treatment for other conditions.

5. Get treated for anxiety, depression, or any other condition affecting one's thinking, mood, and behavior.

6. Some doctors may prescribe the patient antibiotic therapy if they believe a bacterial infection or tick-borne illness causes the disease. Topical and oral antibiotics help in healing long-lasting skin lesions.

7. Doctors who believe that a person's symptoms result from mental and psychological health conditions prescribe antipsychotic drugs.

8. They may also recommend cognitive therapy or talk therapy in patients.

9. In most cases, the patient may also require appropriate counseling.

10. A patient should develop a solid holistic approach (healing methods in which a person is not only to get treated for specific health conditions but also mentally and physically). It will be helpful for the patients in the psychological and physical necessary needs of the treatment.

Can Morgellons Disease Cause Complications?

People with Morgellons skin disease may often cause picking on their skin. Repeated picking can worsen the sores and lead to skin infection and ulceration. Untreated infections lead to sepsis (a severe life-threatening infection). This medical emergency condition may result in organ failure and also even death if left untreated for a more extended period. People with Morgellons disease may also get affected by anxiety, depression, or some other forms of mental health disorders.

Conclusion:

Morgellons disease is a rare type of skin disease in which patients experience fibers and other organic or inorganic particles that emerge from the skin surface, which may be associated with severe psychological and neurological problems. A combination of dermatologists and psychiatrists will help to provide the best steps for controlling and treatment options for Morgellons skin disease.