Morgellons worm – or Morgellons disease – is a misunderstood disease that, while very real to the Morgellons sufferer, is rarely recognized as a parasitic affliction by members of the medical community. In fact, sufferers are regularly condemned as delusional and treated accordingly.

Patients who fall under the Morgellons disease profile report a host of general symptoms. These include itching skin lesions that are similar to pimples. They may fester on their own and are often reinforced by scratching or picking at the wounds. Unusual sensations are reported, such as bugs crawling under the skin, through the hair, and in the ears.

Many people believe that Morgellons is carried by nematodes – microscopic parasitic worms – which invade their host and contribute to the feeling of bugs (or worms) crawling on and under the skin.

Fibers also erupt from the skin and at these points, black specks can also be detected. Many patients report that balled cocoon-like threads are produced from the sores or even unblemished skin. These, indeed, have been observed by knowledgeable medical specialists who report that the fibers can be white or a host of other colors. These threads “glow” when viewed in ultraviolet light. However, to date, the source has not been pinpointed. Some believe that these fibers may also be the worms themselves.

Often the fibers, worms, or other detritis from Morgellons is invisible to the naked eye, but can be observed under ultra-violet light.

Because of oft-invisible nature of the Morgellons worms and fibers, a diagnosis of psychosis often associated with Morgellons disease. Physicians and diagnosticians may treat the patient for Attention Deficit Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. A more common diagnosis is Delusional Parasitosis in which clinicians deduce that the patient is only “seeing” that which does not exist. A vast majority of physicians base this conclusion on proven textbook cases of mental delusions of parasitic infestations.

A host of other health issues accompany Morgellons disease, including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, mental cloudiness, and the same bacterial manifestation as that found in Lyme disease.

There is little to prove whether the disease is contagious. Reports indicate that individuals may be the only infected person in a household while entire families are also dealing with symptoms that seem to have been contracted at the same time from an outside source.

The term Morgellons worm does not directly reflect on the disease itself. The name was applied based on similar cases in the 17th century in which fibrous “hairs” were reportedly erupting from the skin of young children. Morgellons was adopted for general use in reporting cases within the medical community and to attract governmental attention.

A worldwide community of support has developed and the formation of the Morgellons Foundation has brought a greater level of attention to this mysterious disease. While no absolute cures are offered, there is supposition that once certain skin immunity conditions are resolved, individuals may enjoy some relief from Morgellons worm.