MORGELLONS? FILAMENTS AND FIBERS IN BLOOD (LIVE OR DRY) 1

Symptoms

Morgellons disease is a rare condition involving the appearance of black, white, red, or blue fibers underneath or protruding from the skin. People who have Morgellons disease may also develop slow-healing ulcers on their skin.

Other symptoms of Morgellons disease may include:

chronic or severe fatigue
difficulty concentrating
memory problems
muscle and joint pain
formication, which is the sensation of an insect crawling on, stinging, or biting the skin
joint pain
neuropathy

Treatment

There are no standard treatment guidelines for Morgellons disease. Treatments vary depending on the underlying cause.

Doctors may recommend antibiotic therapy if they believe that a person’s condition resulted from a bacterial infection or tick-borne illness. Topical and oral antibiotics may also help heal open or long-lasting skin lesions.

Doctors who believe that a person’s symptoms result from a mental health condition may prescribe psychiatric medication, such as anti-anxiety or antipsychotic drugs. They may also recommend talk therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Diagnosis

A doctor may diagnose Morgellons disease if a person has slow-healing skin lesions and skin-crawling sensations. If a doctor finds fiber-like material in the skin lesions, they may send a sample to a laboratory for further analysis.

Testing blood and skin samples may reveal signs of a bacterial infection, which might involve the B. burgdorferi bacterium. People can develop secondary Staphylococcus infections as a result of having an open wound.

Doctors may refer someone to a psychiatrist for further evaluation if the person experiences symptoms of depression or anxiety, or if they have a history of mental illness.

Diagnosing Morgellons disease can involve multiple testing procedures. Ultimately, doctors will base their diagnosis on the results of a physical examination and laboratory tests.

It is essential that people work with a trusted healthcare provider, especially if they have a condition as poorly understood as Morgellons disease. People may have better treatment outcomes when they work with a healthcare provider whom they know and trust.