Patients with symptoms including persistent skin rashes and sores, accompanied with sensations of burning, stinging, biting or the feeling of crawling insects under the skin frequently diagnose themselves with Morgellons disease, usually after doing research on the Internet. However, the majority of doctors regard Morgellons as a manifestation of known medical conditions, most commonly delusional parasitosis, according to an article published in the "American Journal of Dermatopathology" in May 2010.
Treatment
Numerous and diverse causal factors have been linked with Morgellons disease, including bacteria and parasites, as well as purely psychological factors, emphasizing the necessity for tailoring treatment programs toward the specific needs of each individual patient following physiological, dermatological and psychological assessments, according to the Morgellons Research Foundation.
Delusional Parasitosis
An estimated 95 percent of patients who present symptoms of Morgellons disease are subsequently diagnosed with delusional parasitosis, according to a May 2010 article published in the "American Journal of Dermatopathology." Patients with this condition frequently react to the delusional perception of insect or parasitic infestation of the skin by persistent itching and scratching, leading to cuts and abrasions.
Antipsychotics
Successful treatment of delusional parasitosis is frequently achieved via prescription of antipsychotic drugs that relieve the psychological symptoms, thus preventing the type of self harm that is common to patients with this condition.
Common antipsychotics such as olanzapine, risperidone and aripiprazole are prescribed to these patients, at approximately 1/5 the dose used to treat schizophrenics, according to a March 2006 article published in "Archives of Dermatology."
Bacteria
Skin testing of samples taken from patients that present Morgellons disease symptoms have produced positive results for the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Subsequent treatment of these patients with aggressive antibiotics commonly used to treat Lyme disease led to a remission of symptoms in most of these patients, according to an article published in January 2006 in the "American Journal of Clinical Dermatology." However, these findings are not supported by a significant amount of data.
Self Treatment
Many patients with symptoms of Morgellons are diagnosed with a psychological condition, and strongly disagree with this diagnosis due to a firm conviction of parasitic skin infestation. Frustration with the medical establishment inevitably leads a proportion of these patients toward self-treatment programs, sometimes including harmless herbal remedies, or more destructive approaches such as bleaching the skin, use of drugs intended for de-worming horses, or skin treatment with harsh industrial chemicals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
References
- PubMed; "American Journal of Dermatopathology"; Intraoral Morgellons Disease or Delusional Parasitosis: A First Case Report; A. Dovigi; May 2010
- PubMed; "Archives of Dermatology"; Successful Treatment of Delusions of Parasitosis with Olanzapine; W. Meehan; March 2006
- PubMed; "Am J Clin Dermatol"; The Mystery of Morgellons Disease: Infection or Delusion?; Savely, et al; January 2006
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Unexplained Dermopathy - Morgellons
- Morgellons Research Foundation: Frequentely Asked Questions
