Mystery Disease Gives Sensation Of 'Bugs Eating Skin'
Report: Florida, California, Texas Apparent Hot Spots For Condition
POSTED: Thursday, January 17, 2008
UPDATED: 11:26 am EST January 18,
2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- An unexplained disease that sufferers say cause overwhelming sensations of bugs crawling, biting and stinging their skin and mystery lesions that never heal is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
IMAGES: More strange stories, images
The illness is called Morgellons and Florida, Texas and California are states with apparent hot spots for the condition, Local 6 reported.People who report suffering from the condition identify a range of symptoms including vision loss, mental confusion and fatigue. Some sufferers also said they have experienced tiny fibers that pop out of their skin."They typically describe a disturbing skin sensation such as itching or stinging or pins and needles," Centers for Disease Control Dr. Michele Pearson said.Last summer, registered nurse Cindy Casey said the constant lesions on her body forced her to quit working."It's miserable," Casey said. "It feels like you've got splinters coming out."Thousands of people claim to have Morgellons and a foundation has been formed.However, some are not certain Morgellons is a legitimate disease."The reason we are doing an investigation is to learn more about it," Pearson said.Researchers plan to follow up with 500 people who claim to have the condition.Volunteers will get blood tests, skin exams as well as psychological evaluations.Doctors at Oklahoma State University have been studying Morgellons for years and said they don't know what's causing it.The CDC's year-long study will try to figure out what's causing Morgellons and if there's any way to treat it.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGES: More strange stories, images The illness is called Morgellons and Florida, Texas and California are states with apparent hot spots for the condition, Local 6 reported.People who report suffering from the condition identify a range of symptoms including vision loss, mental confusion and fatigue. Some sufferers also said they have experienced tiny fibers that pop out of their skin."They typically describe a disturbing skin sensation such as itching or stinging or pins and needles," Centers for Disease Control Dr. Michele Pearson said.Last summer, registered nurse Cindy Casey said the constant lesions on her body forced her to quit working."It's miserable," Casey said. "It feels like you've got splinters coming out."Thousands of people claim to have Morgellons and a foundation has been formed.However, some are not certain Morgellons is a legitimate disease."The reason we are doing an investigation is to learn more about it," Pearson said.Researchers plan to follow up with 500 people who claim to have the condition.Volunteers will get blood tests, skin exams as well as psychological evaluations.Doctors at Oklahoma State University have been studying Morgellons for years and said they don't know what's causing it.The CDC's year-long study will try to figure out what's causing Morgellons and if there's any way to treat it.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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