CDC Opens Investigation into Unexplained Dermopathy, or "Morgellons Disease"

Devastating Disease Leads Doctors to Recommend Psychiatrists, Cases in All 50 States and 15 Countries

Patients in all 50 states and 15 countries, according to Wikipedia, have been experiencing a syndrome unofficially named "Morgellons" by a biologist whose daughter was experiencing a strange cluster of symptoms. The CDC has created a website to discuss what they term "unexplained dermopathy" and they are proceeding with research to explore the possible causes and treatment, recruiting patients to undergo physical and mental exams, dermatological exams, blood tests, and more.

"Morgellons" includes a number of strange symptoms, which many physicians suspect are psychosomatic when first presented. An itching, crawling sensation is the most commonly reported, along with reports of "black fibers" emerging from the skin, which also shows sores and lesions. Physical and mental fatigue, short term memory loss, mental confusion and joint problems are also reported. The skin sensations are also reported side effects of a large number of medications, called "formication," from the Latin word for ant. The CDC reports many consequences from the condition, including social and depressive difficulties and even suicidal ideation. One website reported that, unusually, the CDC has opened its investigation in response to individuals and some practitioners who are at a loss as to how to handle the situation, rather than the usual institutional identification of a condition needing further research.

Online discussions have linked similar clusters of symptoms with fibromyalgia, depression, ADD/ADHD, and other conditions. The Internet is full of theories, experiences, and a wide variety of possible treatments, from M.D.-recommended skin lotions to Indian Ayurvedic treatments. Guesses have been made that the condition is fungal in origin, bacterial, a chemical sensitivity, or a malfunction of the liver. Since the skin also is used by the body to eliminate toxins which often causes itching or other sensations, inability of the liver to handle toxins effectively may be an important possibility.