Morgellons: A hidden epidemic or mass hysteria?

Guardian.co.uk ^ | 7 May 2011 | Will Storr

[Windflier]

It's a mysterious condition that affects tens of thousands worldwide. But what is it?

Optical image of what sufferers are adamant are morgellons fibres in skin samples - ...

(Snip)

When Paul rubbed his fingertips over the pimples that dotted his skin, he felt spines. Weird, alien things, like splinters.

(Snip)

What were those curling, coloured fibres? He Googled the words: "Fibres. Itch. Sting. Skin." And there was his answer. It must be: all the symptoms fitted. He had a new disease called morgellons. The fibres were the product of mysterious creatures that burrow and breed in the body. As he read on, he had no idea that morgellons would turn out to be the worst kind of answer imaginable.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Simple question. You assume too much.

[MHGinTN]

Film about ‘things’ that eat the past and a plane full of folks who are trying to out run the Langoliers, to get back tot he present. Stephen King stuff don’tchaknow.

[BlueLancer]

"What the heck are those things? Microscopic critters of some sort?"

No, they're "characters" from a TV miniseries ... I just thought that the name "Morgellons" was as silly as "Langoliers" ...

The Langoliers

[El Cid]

What is your vocation?

Mitten Mogul...

(just joking - good advice regarding the mittens)

[blackdog]

"The main objection to those who advocate for the existence of an infectious agent behind Morgellons comes from physicians who argue that Morgellons symptoms are psychosomatic in nature. The most common differential diagnosis for those who present claiming Morgellons is delusional parasitosis. Those who suffer from delusional parasitosis believe, mistakenly, that they are afflicted with a parasitic infection or infestation with bugs and vehemently resist physician’s attempts to persuade them otherwise with contrary medical evidence. Often, seeking to persuade physicians of the legitimacy of their claims, parasitosis patients will come to the medical clinics with pieces of skin, scabs, hairs, and other samples from their body to present to their doctor as proof of infection— this is widely known among dermatologists as the “matchbox sign” (or, more contemporarily as the “ziplock bag” sign)."

Many physicians, especially dermatologists who often first see patients with Morgellons lesions, believe that Morgellons websites, personal blogs, and conspiracy theorists on the Internet are primarily to blame for the rise in Morgellons patients. It is notable that widespread reports of Morgellons cases— nationally and internationally—have only spiked since the symptoms were first described online at www.morgellons.com in 2002 by Mary Leitao of the Morgellons Research Foundation. The information available online has fueled what some psychiatrists believe is a classic case of shared delusion, or “folie a deux” on a remarkable scale. “It seems to be a socially transmitted disease over the Internet,” said Robert E. Bartholomew, an Australian sociologist who specializes in studying mass delusions [Healy LA Times]. Dr. Mary Seeman, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto is concerned that the Internet and our increasingly wired online global village has changed the typical dynamics of the “folie a deux” phenomenon, and the result is a shared delusion of unprecedented size and geographic distribution [New York times article]. “When a person has something bothering him these days, the first thing he does is go online,” says Dr. Seeman [nytimes article]. Bartholomew and Craft are not alone in their assessment: many believe that the information widely available on the worldwide web has encouraged a subset of truly delusional patients to cling to the “diagnosis” of Morgellons. Dr. Randy Wymore, an assistant professor of pharmacology at Oklahoma State University and former Morgellons Research Foundation board member is nationally renowned for his scientific pursuit for answers about Morgellons fibers.

[Windflier]

Ok. I’m officially overwhelmed by your deadly effective Wall of Text. You win, oh diabolical one.

[goat granny]

There was a story about this on an ER series, forgot which satellite station...Looked at them under a micro scrope and they are real, no one knows why they happen....also had a story of a baby that had maggots coming out between his fingers....at first the doctor didn’t believe the father, until they came out while in the ER. Took out a dozen from the little guys hands...just had to wait until they appeared and with tweezers pulled them out....

[MamaB]

I love very odd movies and that is one of my favorites.

[blackdog]

It's not me. Morgellon worms have bridged the synaptic transmission endings in my central nervous system and are tranmitting information to refute their existence via internet forums. My hands have a mind of their own./s

Morgellons originated in France, and it's widely discussed that the mode of transmission is in Evian water bottles. Morgellons faithful think we are an intermediate host for this parasite which exists in top secret alien research facilities. The primary host is supposed to be aliens.

[MamaB]

Did you see the show about the person who had worms coming out of her head? Forgot what show but that was gross.

[Paladin2]

I noticed the same fibers a few months ago in a (very) minor wound. Was most likely dog and cat hair that just got stuck in the scab.

[blackdog]

“Enemies Within Us” , it’s an Animal Channel show. I like the one where the river leach was living inside a guy’s nose and when it felt like stretching it’s torso, it would unwind from the guy’s nose and hang down his lip. As soon as the leach felt any movement, it would quick scrunch back up and hide inside his nasal passages. Because leaches produce an antisthetic into their bite site, the guy was numbed to any feeling of it. The scene where the waiter freaked out at the snake coming out of his nose when he tried to take a food order was hysterical!

[blackdog]

A good trick to wound management in a hurry is combing cotton fibers into a mat and laying them over the wound with pressure. The blood syrum turns the site into a fiberglass-like patch which stops the bleeding and keeps the wound clean until you can clean it up properly.

Welcome to farmer healthcare. Emergencies have to wait.

[chris_bdba]

I know what you mean! I just hope if this IS real that I never comein contact with it. Just the suggestion of itching is going to drive me crazy for awhile.

[Rudder]

Morgellons sufferers include children and people who've never abused drugs in their lives. How do you explain their conditions?

Mental illness.

[goat granny]

Yep, saw that one also. They get some really weird stuff in the ER...Especially from people that have traveled to Central, south American or Africa...They have gross stuff in those places...

[Windflier]

Mental illness.

Flow with it, bubba. It's supposed to be a fun topic.

[blackdog]

Did you ever notice that conditions like this only seem to be a crisis among those with wealth and social standing? Much like poor black women don't suffer from bulemia and anorexia. Morgellons is a disease for the privileged wealthy classes with internet service, clean water, sewage systems, and limitless healthcare.

[blackdog]

The one I freak out about is that spiny fish that swims up your urethra and lays it's eggs in your pecker or cooter.

Genital caviar I suppose?

[Rudder]

I was trying to call out the Morgellons Zombies---no takers.

Anybody have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Fibromyalgia?