How to Diagnose Morgellons Disease

Although Morgellons disease has received increasing attention in the media, doctors first described Morgellons disease over 300 years ago. Patients have reported Morgellons disease across the world, although the number of reported cases is higher in Florida, Texas and California.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Pay attention to symptoms involving the skin. Morgellons patients have sores that don't heal and a feeling that insects are crawling under their skin or biting them. Fatigue, joint swelling and memory loss accompany these symptoms.
2. Look for fibers protruding from the skin. Morgellons patients describe fibers protruding from lesions in red, white, black or blue colors. Fibers vary in thickness from as thin as a hair to as thick as a strand of spaghetti.
3. Eliminate the possibility of delusional parasitosis. Skeptics in the medical community attribute the symptoms of Morgellons disease to this psychiatric disorder, since Morgellons isn't recognized in medical literature. See a psychiatrist to rule out any underlying psychiatric problems.
4. Talk to others who deal with Morgellons disease. Long-term sufferers of Morgellons disease have experience navigating the health-care system and can offer insight and support as you embark on your diagnostic quest.
5. Request a skin biopsy. Sores that don't heal are a sign of skin cancer, a common and treatable skin disease. A dermatologist can rule out the possibility of cancer or other skin disorders.
6. Consider seeking multiple medical opinions. Morgellons disease is controversial, and many doctors refuse to acknowledge the existence of this mysterious skin disorder. Until the medical community recognizes this disease, you may need to see several specialists to find a doctor who can legitimize your symptoms.