Louisiana Office of Public Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Se - PDF document

Louisiana Office of Public Health – Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section Page 1 of 3 Delusional Parasitosis and Morgellons Disease upon or burrowing into the skin, sometimes accompa-nied by an actual physical sensation (formication Self mutilation : Individuals suffering from this : Some are able to induce the co : Nearly any marking upon the skin, or small object or particle Louisiana Office of Public Health – Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section Page 2 of 3 present it to medical professionals when seekknown as "the matchbox sign" because the "evidence" is frequently presented in a small container, such as a matchbox Symptoms associated withthesia (unexplained tingling sensations inions are real, but the attri-of fibers is part Delusory Cleptoparasitosis : A form of delusion of parasitosis where the sufferer believes Treatment : It is also characteristic that sufferers will reject the diagnosis of delusional parasitosis by medical professionals; very few are willing to be treated, despite demonstr-

able efficacy of treatment. Treatment of secondary forms of deluprimary associated psychological or physical condition. The primary form is treated ophrenia. In the past, pimozide was the drug of choice when selecting from typical antiare used as first line treatment. Morgellons The term "Morgellons cutaneous (skin) symptoms rashes or sores). A majority of health professionals, including most dermatologists, re-gard Morgellons as a manifestation of other known medical conditions, including delu-ound are from textiles, such as clothing. The Morgellons Research Foundation, a non-profit advocacy organization, believes that it is a new infectious disease that will be confirmed by future reseals do not acknowledge Morgellons disease, or are reserving judgment until more is in the Archives of Dermatology on May 16, skin infestation despite doing skin biopsies and examining specimens provided by the feeling of skin infestation was a : Following a mailing campaign coordinated by the tion Web site and sent thousands of form letters to members of Congress, a Centers for rce first met in June 2006. The task force Louisiana Office of Public Health – Infectious Dise

ase Epidemiology Section Page 3 of 3 ts, a toxicologist, an ethicist, a mental rasitic, environmental and chronic diseases. website on "Unexplained Dermopathy (aka 'Morgellons'). By November 2007, the CDC hastating that, "The primary goals epidemiologic features of this condition afactors." Kaiser Permanente in Northern Califthe illness, and estimate rates of illness in affected communities. The investigation in-ed patients, and characterization of foreign material such as fibers or threads obtained from patients to determine their potential source. e CDC was enlisting the aid of the U.S. Armed erican Academy of Dermatology "to conduct 'immediate' and 'rigorous' research." or environmental links or otherwise), or common environmental fems. Laboratory analy-and other materials likely to be found in clotby small organisms. Various Morgellons groupssaying it confirmed their expectations that the government-run study is trying to cover up larger issues. Jan Smith, owner and operator ofnano-technology implants), be-lieved the problem was more than a medical condition and responded, “There’s some