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Title: Strange disease that causes fibers to grow underneath the skin Written by: bio_man on Jun 2, 2022 (https://biology-forums.com/gallery/45/6_02_06_22_10_06_12.jpeg) (https://biology-forums.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=45157) Imagine a disease whose presence is marked by a feeling of something crawling along your skin, stinging every part of your body as if there is insect or parasite infestation that doesn't go away. Not only that, but your skin is plagued with the presence of multicolored filaments that lie under, are embedded in, or project from skin. Morgellons disease (pronounced with either a hard or soft "g") is a highly misunderstood skin condition that was first reported in the USA in 2002, although may have a longer history depending on where you look. The characteristic filaments described earlier are microscopic, visually resembling textile fibers, and are white, black, or a more vibrant color, such as red or blue (left image). In addition to fiber production, people with this disease may also experience formication, described as stinging, biting, creeping and crawling sensations, including a variety of systemic manifestations, such as fatigue, joint pain, cardiac complications, cognitive difficulties, and neuropathy – symptoms that are commonly associated with spirochetal infections in humans (e.g. Lyme disease; right image). Unfortunately, many physicians believe that this disease is purely a delusional disorder. In fact, there are approximately 40 papers in the medical literature proposing that the symptoms are psychosomatic, and only a quarter of that figure proposing that it has an infectious etiology. |