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Medical Information

Currently, there are very few doctors that are treating patients with Morgellons in the UK. It is not known whether any GP's in the NHS are knowingly treating patients for Morgellons.

This letter gives the current position of the Department of Health on Morgellons, This advises morgellons sufferers to engage with their GPs for a thorough assessment:

Letter in full, received from Department of Health (22nd August 2008)

It is likely that most GP's have encountered patients reporting the symptoms described. There can be lots of causes for itching, and your doctor should rule out known causes such as scabies, thyroid, kidney or liver disfunction.

Not all Morgellons sufferers have open skin sores but may have spots that don't heal properly, or that are itchy. Some patients also report that they are causing other people to itch in their presence.

For both doctors and patients, its important to engage and keep an open mind about tests and treatment options. Many patients with symptoms of Morgellons report having bacterial and fungal co-infections which may be internal or skin related.

Information for your Doctor

Clinical signs:

• Non healing skin sores or persistant spots
• Filaments embedded in skin (blue, black, white, red) - viewable with illuminating x 60 hand lens
• Micro-angiomas on skin
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Low core body temperature
• Foot drop
• Loss of balance (Romberg test)
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Slow capilary refill
• Abnormal reflexes

Clinical Serology Test Abnormalities

It may be appropriate to take a skin scapings or biopsies for bacterial infections (eg Staph aureus is common) and fungal infections (very common).

Research suggests that many patients test positive for the bacteria, Borrelia spp, and may have chronic Lyme disease symptoms. Antibiotics have helped patients. Although Morgellons is not caused by bacteria alone, bacterial co-infections are highly likely with this condition, including tick related Bartonella or Babesia bacteria.

Patients have benefited from doxycycline, or a combination of clarithromycin and Bactrim. Treatment for fungal infections with short term use of metronidazole can help initially. Ivermectin anti-parasitic medication can benefit sufferers that have severe symptoms.

Important infections, causing crawling sensations in skin, may involve nematode or fly larvae (unusual myiasis). A variety of small fly larvae maybe involved which are not thought to normally parasitize humans. Species may include plant gall midges, fungus gnats and phorid flies. Diagnosis of myiasis can be difficult due to the microscopic size of the larvae.

Medication can kick start a level of recovery, but sufferers often find longer term, holistic strategies, give the greatest benefit, although do not report being cured.

See support info: http://www.morgellonsuk.org.uk/support.htm.

Pain killers, anti-hystamine and sleep medications may help sleep if relaxation activities and natural remedies are insufficient. Steroids should be avoided.

Deciding to make a diagnosis of delusional parasitosis must be given careful consideration. Be mindful that many anti-psycotic drugs, also have an anti-microbial action. The emotional element associated with Morgellons may mean that a patient may present as being neurotic, but rarely psychotic.

Below is a useful presentation with detailed photographs of morgellon elements:

Morgellons Disease or “Delusions of Parasitosis”? Examining the Medical Literature and Photographic Evidence Oct. 2006, Medical Mistakes, University of Wyoming, Elizabeth Rasmussen PhD.

Below are two letters from Dr's in the States addressed to practioners:

http://www.morgellons.org/letter.pdf - From: Randy S. Wymore, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology & Physiology Rhonda Casey, D.O., Department of Pediatrics Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Tulsa, Oklahoma

http://www.thenmo.org/gregs.htm - From Dr Greg Smith, MD, FAAP

Please refer to the Research section for more information. There are doctors and specialists that you can contact for further information.

Please feel free to contact us, especially if you are able to engage with patients in a meaningful way.

Tips on surviving a Doctor's appointment provided by the Charles E. Holman Foundation, USA

Page updated: 23rd August 2010