CDC to Study Morgellons Disease to Aid Both Patients and Doctors

A Disfiguring and Disabling Disease - Morgellons

Morgellons disease has been handled by doctors as a mental disease or ignored in the past. The Morgellons Research Foundation, formed in 2002, rejected that idea. Patients, advocates and 40 members of Congress were among those who have called on the CDC to investigate this dreadful disease.

Morgellons disease is a newly emerging infectious disease, reports the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF). It can be disfiguring and disabling and can affect all groups of people, even children.

Some symptoms of Morgellons:

* non-healing skin sores/lesions

* abnormal crawling, biting and stinging skin sensations,

* the presence of fibers or other foreign substance on or just beneath the skin

* fatigue

* mental confusion

* memory loss

* joint pain

* changes in vision

Up to now Morgellons Disease was treated like Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue used to be. With some doctors treating it soley as a mental disease. In Morgellons case, they called it "Delusions of Parasitosis (DP) meaning this is a psychiatric illness with the presumption of a purely delusional "parasite infestations".

Some doctors have completely refused to treat people with Morgellons. Leaving patients with no where to turn with the painful symptoms they endure.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) will start there study soon. The investigation may take a year and will involve Northern California Health Plan patients of the last 18 months.

The Armed Forces Pathology Institute and Kaiser Permanente will help conduct the study. Dr. Michele Pearson lead CDC investigator called it an unexplained illness.

Patients taking part in the study can plan on the following:

* A general medical examination.

* A dermatologic examination.

* A mental health exam and evaluation.

* Skin biopsies.

* Multiple blood tests.

The CDC will be using a combination of epidemiologists, laboratoriams and pathologists.

Information from the Mayo Clinic says that 15 countries have reported cases of Morgellons. To date the most reported cases have been in the U.S. They are found in clusters in California, Texas and Florida.