CDC: No underlying cause for Morgellons

ATLANTA, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- There is no underlying cause for a condition in which people said feels like tiny bugs crawling over the body and includes oozing sores, U.S. researchers said.

In response to complaints made by patients in January 2008, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began an investigation that sought to improve understanding of an unexplained apparent dermopathy -- special type of diseases involving skin and its underlying layer -- commonly referred to as Morgellons.

The CDC partnered with Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large group health plan in an area where many of the skin complaints had been reported, and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, identified any possible common cause or risk factors for the condition.

Researchers described signs and symptoms of the condition, studied biopsy specimens from patients' skin sores and examined fibers or other materials reported by patients as being on or in their skin, the report said.

The study, published in PloS One, found skin damage from the sun was the most common skin abnormality found, and no single underlying medical condition or infectious source was identified. Most sores appeared to result from chronic scratching and picking.

No infectious cause and no evidence of an environmental link were found and there was no indication that it would be helpful to perform additional testing, the researchers said.

The researchers said testing revealed a substantial number of study participants scored highly for one or more co-existing psychiatric or addictive conditions, including depression, a preoccupation with health issues and drug use.