Morgellons Disease (MD) is a multi-system illness uniquely characterized by the formation of unusual fibers 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 subcutaneous fibers sometimes referred to as filaments within the skin. Lighted microscopy (60-x minimum) enables the visualization of these unusual fibers, often-colored red, blue, black, white or clear, embedded in open skin lesions as well as their presence beneath intact skin.
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.
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.
