The Signs & Symptoms of Morgellons Disease

Morgellons is a baffling disorder of the skin that can also involve mental symptoms. Some, in fact, question whether it is an infectious disease or a mental disorder. More than 10,000 people reported having the condition in 2008. The Centers for Disease Control noted a rise in reports of the disease and began investigating possible links and causes that year. It is still unknown how the disease is caused or transmitted. What is known is a string of symptoms and signs common to those diagnosed.

Skin Symptoms

• Morgellons Disease Research calls Morgellons a multi-symptom skin disease, with most of the symptoms skin related. If you contract Morgellons, you may have lesions that won't heal. A sensation of crawling and biting from under the skin has also been reported. Multi-colored fibers, black speck-like material or granules may appear on or underneath the skin. Some people suffering from Morgellons have reported actually seeing insects fly in and out of their skin. Painful sensations beneath the skin are the most common symptom.

Other Symptoms

• Not all symptoms are confined to the skin, however. With Morgellons, you may feel tired, have joint swelling, and suffer hair loss. The CDC has also had reports of vision loss.

Mental Symptoms

• Those with Morgellons also report mental symptoms. You may experience loss of short-term memory, or have a sense of being in a "fog." Bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder have also been reported.

Considerations

• It isn't known if the disease is contagious. Though the cause is also unknown, more than half of those with Morgellons also have Lyme disease, according to Morgellons Disease Research. Some sufferers have had symptoms for more than two decades. To date, no one has recovered spontaneously.

Treatment

• Many websites offer treatments for Morgellons disease, but the CDC does not support a particular treatment plan. They suggest consulting a physician to discuss the condition. Some doctors will approach treatment as a two-fold plan using both topical ointments and anti-psychotic medications. Many governmental health sites, however, list Morgellons as having no treatment.