morgellons

English - English

Definition of morgellons in English English dictionary

Morgellons (Morgellons disease or Morgellons syndrome) refers to unexplained dermopathy (skin disorder) and is characterized by a range of cutaneous symptoms including crawling, biting, and stinging sensations; finding fibers on or under the skin; and persistent skin lesions (e.g., rashes or sores)

A controversial, unproven diagnostic entity of unknown etiology usually dismissed as delusional parasitosis, particularly when other objective diagnoses cannot be attained. Characterized by skin lesions producing odd fibers of origin apparently unknown to science. Also, morgellons disease

Etymology

() Coined by Mary Leitao after a usage by Sir Thomas Browne, apparently a corruption of the Provençal term masclous, "little flies".