Lyme - a closer look, Lyme co-infections
Morgellons disease
Posted by VH on September 5, 2016
Morgellons disease affects a small percentage of people with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. For this reason we are classifying it as a Lyme disease “co-infection”. So far its cause is not proven, and very little is understood about its aetiology.
Guest article written by Carl Pashley
What is Morgellons Disease?
Morgellons Disease (MD) is a multi-system illness uniquely characterized by the formation of unusual fibres within the skin. MD is a debilitating, painful and life impacting condition consisting of slow-healing skin lesions, overwhelming fatigue, GI disturbances and an array of neurological deficits. Patients with Morgellons may shed unusual appearing particles from the skin described as fibers, sand or seed-like, black specks, or crystalized particles.
The distinguishing characteristic of Morgellons Disease (MD) is the presence of microscopic or subcutaneous fibers sometimes referred to as filaments within the skin. Lighted microscopy (60-x minimum) enables better visualization of these unusual filaments, often-colored red, blue, black, white or clear, embedded in open skin lesions as well as their presence beneath intact skin. Skin fibres or filaments of various sizes can also be seen with the naked eye.
What is the cause?
Patients and physicians often misinterpret Morgellons symptoms as being parasitic in origin but researchers concur that no parasites are involved with the etiology of Morgellons. It has also been determined that there are no fungal components to the etiology of Morgellons.
Borrelia, a spirochetal bacterium, has been detected in all Morgellons study subjects so far. Borrelia is detected by multiple methods in abundance within Morgellons skin lesions including culture. Other bacteria commonly found in some but not all Morgellons skin lesions include H. pylori, Bartonella and Treponema denticola.
Visible symptoms
Research has determined that the filaments and shed materials are products of epithelial cells and are composed of collagen and keratin. Filaments can often be visualized stemming directly from cells and a retained nucleus can often be visualized at the base of the filament. The coloring of the filaments is not well understood but research has shown that the blue filaments contain granules of melanin.
How do I know if I have Morgellons Disease?
The key diagnostic criterion for Morgellons disease is the presence of unusual filaments beneath unbroken skin or projecting from skin. These filaments can best be visualized at 60-100 X magnification and often start out as small black specks poking out from the surface of the skin, often followed by fibres of various size, shape and colour.
Symptoms
Intense itching (not experienced by all patients)
Crawling sensations under the skin
Spontaneously–appearing, slow-healing lesions (not experienced by all patients)
Seed-like objects/ granules and black specks on/in skin (sometimes without skin lesions visible to the naked eye)
“Fuzz balls” on or in intact skin (sometimes without skin lesions visible to the naked eye)
Fine, thread like colored fibres beneath and/or extruding from the skin (sometimes without skin lesions visible to the naked eye)
Life-altering fatigue
Neurological impairment
Visual and hearing changes
Brain fog and diminished higher cognitive abilities
Hair loss
GI changes
Muscle aches and joint pain
General malaise; intense, life-impacting pain
Dental deterioration
Sleep disturbances
Psychiatric manifestations can include anxiety, depression, new onset of panic attacks, changes in behavior and personality. Some patients have been diagnosed with OCD, bipolar disorder and even delusional disorders can result if left untreated.
Where to get help if you have Morgellons disease
Facebook patient support group: Supporting Morgellons Disease UK
This is a support and discussion group, founded by a relative of a Morgellons patient. It is a private group, meaning anything you post in it will not be visible to non-members or any of your other Facebook contacts. The group focuses on published scientific evidence from reliable sources, and discussion of conspiracy theories or other unproven ideas is discouraged.
Email: CEHFUK@icloud.com
The Charles E. Holmann Morgellons Disease Foundation
Peer Reviewed Research papers
Bristish Medical Journal Publication: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4328066/
This paper is published in a British Medical Journal and it’s the strongest evidence available showing Morgellons is closely associated with active Borrelia infection in the skin.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4328066/
(Feb 12, 2015 – Exploring the association between Morgellons disease and Lyme disease: identification of Borrelia burgdorferi in Morgellons disease patients)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24715950
(January 2013, PubMed – Association of Spirochetal Infection with Morgellons Disease)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23326202
(January 2013, PubMed – Characterization and evolution of dermal filaments from patients with Morgellons disease)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9616173.htm
(June 12, 2012, F1000 – Morgellons Study Cited by Faculty of 1000 Study of Emerging Skin Disease Among Top 2% Published)
http://omicsonline.org/2155-9554/2155-9554-3-140.pdf
(May 15, 2012, Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research – Morgellons Disease: A Chemical and Light Microscopic Study)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22253541
(Nov 4, 2011, PubMed – Filament formation associated with spirochetal infection: a comparative approach to Morgellons disease)
Photograph by Michela Metcalf
About these ads
Share this:
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)8Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)8Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to email (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Related
Caudwell Lyme Disease comments on NICE guidelines scoping document
Caudwell Lyme Disease comments on NICE guidelines scoping document
In "Blog posts"
Congenital Lyme Disease
Congenital Lyme Disease
In "Lyme - a closer look"
Other tick-borne infections
Other tick-borne infections
In "Blog posts"
Borreliamorgellons diseaseskin lesions
Post navigation
Previous Post Exponential growth in new Lyme disease cases
One Comment
Add yours
claire sidwell says:
September 5, 2016 at 4:14 pm
Thanks so much for writing this article! It would seem morgellons is even more of a dirty word than Lyme disease. I have suffered with morgellons since my tick bite and have not received any help from the NHS, since being misdiagnosed with folliculitis. I’ve emailed the link and joined the fb group too🙂 thanks again x
Reply
Leave a Reply
Address
Caudwell Lyme Disease
The Coach House
Broughton Hall
Broughton, nr. Eccleshall
Staffordshire
ST21 6NS
UK
CHARITY REGISTRATION PENDING
Search this site
Search for:
Subscribe to our blog
RSS Caudwell and Lyme disease in the news
Milder winters means dog owners must be on the lookout for ticks all year round September 5, 2016
Yolanda Foster Is Feeling Well Enough To Hit The Road With Daughter Bella September 5, 2016
Sheila Lyons has been a dynamic collaborator September 5, 2016
The Benefits of Sauna Therapy in Lyme Disease September 5, 2016
Bella Hadid flaunts her flat stomach in a sheer crop top
“CAUDWELL LYME DISEASE”
Join 226 other followers
Build a website with WordPress.com
