Intraoral Morgellons Disease or Delusional Parasitosis: A First Case Report

Dovigi, Allan

doi:10.1097/dad.0b013e3181ca4a13

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…There are only three case studies that specifically mention the presence of fibers either projecting from or embedded in skin. 57 , 72 , 75 Roncati et al 72 reported “grayish spots” under skin, then used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to study the spots. SEM showed that the spots were associated with fibers described as “synthetic wire” consistent with samples from a washing machine, as well as keratin fibers consistent with hair from the patient’s dog.…”

Section: Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis Of Dpmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dovigi provided convincing evidence that the fibers extracted from an oral lesion on the mucosal distal tuberosity of a tooth were synthetic carbon-based fibers, but there is no evidence that the fibers were self-implanted. 57 Dental floss is composed of synthetic fibers, such as nylon. 78 Fibers could have been introduced during flossing, especially if the floss had frayed and become lodged between teeth, eventually festering and causing a lesion.…”

Section: Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis Of Dpmentioning

confidence: 99%

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History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition

Middelveen¹,

Fesler²,

Stricker³

2018

CCID

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Morgellons disease (MD) is a skin condition characterized by the presence of multicolored filaments that lie under, are embedded in, or project from skin. Although the condition may have a longer history, disease matching the above description was first reported in the US in 2002. Since that time, the condition that we know as MD has become a polemic topic. Because individuals afflicted with the disease may have crawling or stinging sensations and sometimes believe they have an insect or parasite infestation, most medical practitioners consider MD a purely delusional disorder. Clinical studies supporting the hypothesis that MD is exclusively delusional in origin have considerable methodological flaws and often neglect the fact that mental disorders can result from underlying somatic illness. In contrast, rigorous experimental investigations show that this skin affliction results from a physiological response to the presence of an infectious agent. Recent studies from that point of view show an association between MD and spirochetal infection in humans, cattle, and dogs. These investigations have determined that the cutaneous filaments are not implanted textile fibers, but are composed of the cellular proteins keratin and collagen and result from overproduction of these filaments in response to spirochetal infection. Further studies of the genetics, pathogenesis, and treatment of MD are warranted.

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Section: Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis Of Dpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis Of Dpmentioning

confidence: 99%

History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition

Middelveen¹,

Fesler²,

Stricker³

2018

CCID

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“…Two rare oral occurrences have been also reported in literature [3,4]. The term "Morgellons" was used for the first time around the year 1600 in a letter written by Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682), in which he described an endemic condition among the little children in Languedoc, called the Morgellons, concerning with a "hair growth" on the back of the body, combined with convulsions and coughing [5].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The first investigative science-based evidence of Morgellons psychogenesis

Roncati

Gatti

Pusiol

et al. 2016

Ultrastructural Pathology

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Morgellons disease is an infrequent syndromic condition, that typically affects middle-aged white women, characterized by crawling sensations on and under the skin, associated with itchy rashes, stinging sores, fiber-like filaments emerging from the sores, severe fatigue, concentrating difficulty, and memory loss. The scientific community is prone to believe that Morgellons is the manifestation of various psychiatric syndromes (Munchausen, Munchausen by proxy, Ekbom, Wittmaack-Ekbom). Up until now, no investigative science-based evidence about its psychogenesis has ever been provided. In order to close this gap, we have analyzed the filaments extracted from the skin lesions of a 49-year-old Caucasian female patient, by using a Field Emission Gun-Environmental Electron Scanning Microscope equipped with an X-ray microprobe, for the chemico-elemental characterization of the filaments, comparing them with those collected during a detailed indoor investigation, with careful air monitoring, in her apartment. Our results prove the self-introduction under the epidermis of environmental filaments. For the first time in the literature, we have scientifically demonstrated the self-induced nature of Morgellons disease, thereby wiping out fanciful theories about its etiopathogenesis.

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“…The administration of sulpiride, atypical antipsychotic, resulted in complete resolution of her oral symptoms [ 18 ]. Another case, being reported in 2010, when a 61-year-old Caucasian female presented to her periodontist with oral lesions for a duration of 2 years and a complaint of “numerous fibers” emerging from her oral lesion with itching and irritation from the lesion [ 19 ]. Pathological examination of these fibers revealed nothing, but synthetic fibers that were possibly implanted into the oral mucosa by the patient [ 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delusional Parasitosis or Morgellons Disease: A Case of an Overlap Syndrome

Alhendi

Burahmah

2023

Case Reports in Dentistry

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Background. Delusional parasitosis (DP) is a monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis where the patient has the delusion of being infested with parasites, whereas Morgellons disease (MD) is described when the patient has fixed ideation of fibers or other materials emerging from skin. Both psychological and organic causes can result into the delusion of infestation, and careful examination is required to exclude secondary causes. Oral DP can result in self-inflected mutilations of the oral mucosa. To our knowledge, oral DP is only rarely reported in the literature. Here, we describe and discuss the management of a case of overlap between oral DP and oral MD at the oral medicine (OM) clinic. Case Report. A 50-year-old male presented to the OM clinic with ulcerations of oral and perioral tissues. Patient reported inflicting wounds to himself using a shaving blade to extirpate worms and pieces of glass from underneath his oral and perioral mucosa. Clinical and laboratory investigations ruled out parasitic infestations. Self-inflected ulcers were treated with topical steroids and prophylactic antifungals, and the patient was referred for psychiatric evaluation. A diagnosis of primary DP was reached, and the patient was managed with antipsychotics. Practical Implications. Oral health care providers should be familiar with oral manifestations of psychiatric disorders and should be able to manage such patients in a multidisciplinary team of internist, dermatologist, and psychiatrist.

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Intraoral Morgellons Disease or Delusional Parasitosis: A First Case Report

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition

History of Morgellons disease: from delusion to definition

The first investigative science-based evidence of Morgellons psychogenesis

Delusional Parasitosis or Morgellons Disease: A Case of an Overlap Syndrome

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