Mystery Rash

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Freedom! self reliance : One Thread

Hi everyone,

Has anybody been following the articles on the school kids in Virginia with the mysterious rashes? For once I don't have a cut and dried opinion about whats going on. I find it strange that the CDC was called in to do testing about 5 days ago but they haven't made any statements. They first said it was probably Fifths disease but did say testing for that came back mostly negative. Then I read somewhere that it was suspicious as possible Typhoid (theres 4 types). Maybe someone here has heard something more concrete than that??? The original story is at the Washington Post website. Bye!!

-- Kathy (kack@countrylife.net), December 04, 2001

Answers

TYPHOID!!!!!!!! Eeeek. I have heard a couple of blurbs about this, but I thought it was maryland. Is it both?

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), December 04, 2001.

Doreen, I don't know if its both or not. I know its definitely happening in Virginia. Time Bomb 2000 forum had a post worth reading called germ warfare hall of shame. Listed lots of declassified material about testing of germ/chemical materials on unsuspecting populations. Check it out.... was posted I think yesterday. I'd post a link but don't know how. Kathy

-- Kathy (kack@countrylife.net), December 06, 2001.

What's going on in VA? I heard on NPR, shortly after all the Anthrax situations, that there was an out break of Pertussis (whooping cough) in the central part of the state.

-- Bren (wayoutfar@skybest.com), December 07, 2001.

I don't have much of an answer to contribute but, since around August of last year (2001), a mysterious rash appeared ON ME!! I am a 44 yr. old adult male. I have changed NO habits nor picked up ANY new ones. It just all of a sudden appeared one day and has "clung to me" ever since. I have only noticed a lessening of the affected areas, but, it's NEVER gone completely away! Paranoia is not part of my character BUT, something "wierd" IS going on. It's TOO WIDESPREAD to be "coincidence"!! Phil (Modesto, CA.)

-- Phil L. (YamaHog10000@earthlink.net), February 23, 2002.

Here is an article about a mystery rash that shut down a school 2 days ago near Salem Oregon:

http://www.nwcn.com/topstory/NW_022602ORNmysteryrash.14246a88.html

A child in our family has had a rash on and off for several weeks.

The Doctor suspects fifths disease, which can last 6 weeks or more.

-- Tim (electronman95350@hotmail.com), February 28, 2002.



I keep getting this rash. I am only 15. I got this rash around mid november last year.(2001) It has spread to my face a little, all over my arms and it is on my thighs.

-- Paul ? (Gloober56@yahoo.com), March 05, 2002.

Both my younger son and daughter got the same type of rash it came and two to three weeks later it went, I live in Japan and I am getting ready to PCS back to the states. If you find something out please e-mail me back.

Dave

-- Dave Headley (headley@ika.attmil.ne.jp), March 07, 2002.


I don't have an answer, but the rash has hit Tennessee, too. Adults are getting the rash here. I know of an adult here who has fifth disease(she has a very virulent form of it). Might be wierd, but I think the CDC is trying to hide something. This probably doesn't help much,but every adult or child who has the rash here has already had fifth disease. Anybody not immune is catching fifth's. I've looked it up in other state's, and a few adults are getting fifth disease everywhere the rash breaks out. I know it's contagious because me, my husband, my children, and several unrelated people have had it. I don't believe we all imagined it. To me, it seems likely it is a new form of fifth disease. If you've already had fifth disease as a child, the rash hits with less intensity. Just some food for thought.

-- Lorrie (care_bearbear@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.

I iwsh I knew something that would help, but I don't. Are all of these rashes the same? What are all of the symptoms? And of course the CDC won't say anything, they need six years to study it, they have grant money to be concened with,lol. No, seriously though, bureaucracies have a tough time dealing with things quickly even though the folks might be working as hard as they can on it.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), March 10, 2002.

I would question if a consumable product sold to schools for use by these students would be the cause. It's not affecting the populations as a whole but to persons in the schools. The first thing I would check is the milk. Mayby the milk from the the cow is o.k. but through the processing had become tainted by some microbe. Perhaps from a completely not so clean pipe? This makes the most sense to me seeing how the rash has spread, and all generally within the same time frame. The spread of the rash follows the distribution of a certain batch of milk from a certain production facility? Mayby. It's something I would definately check on independantly. Because I'm certain that if you watch for this in the news and expect concrete answers from the CDC or other authorities you will not get them. This news item will slowly dissappear.

-- Robert (robert_aubin@hotmail.com), March 11, 2002.


im 23 years old and got this rash back in october. i still have it to this day just not as bad. it keeps coming and going. sometimes it goes away for a month or two. originally it was thought to be scabbies but scabbies does not last this long. i have no clue what it is and my doctor does not either. if anyone has any questions feel free to email me

-- paul m (droppinbombs02@cs.com), March 12, 2002.

As I've thought about these rash epidemic, two things come to my mind.

1. Are these rashes happening where people, out of fear, are taking potassium iodide? A possible side effect, especially of ingesting too much, would be a rash.

2. Are these places near nuclear power plants, manufacturing facilities or other places where radioactive contamination could be happening? Have these schools been checked for radiation levels in their heat and air sstems? Persistant rash is a first symptom of radiation poison.

Are our low-tech terrorists poisoning our children like we did theirs?

-- Laura (Ladybugwrangler@hotmail.com), March 13, 2002.


Mysterious rash shows up in yet another school in CT. What ever it is, it's causing school closings around the state and from what I've read else where, around the country. The CDC said they can't find any links and they're down playing it for sure. Here's a link to the lastest news about todays school closing.

http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=705675&nav=0Rde7tYY

Creepy!!

-- Lenore (Lenore_1@yahoo.com), March 16, 2002.


I'm 17 and I think I have this mystery rash, it's March 20, 2002. I live in a small town in Michigan and I have no idea, it started on my face the other day and now has spread all over my arms. When I get really warm it worsens for some reason and stops itching when I'm cold. Benydrel does nothing for it. I heard only steroids. I have no idea what would be causing this but I hope they find out soon so that I don't have to be suffering from something no one knows anything about!!!!!!!Where else can and does this rash go anyway?

-- Katie Brewer (rustymusty89@aol.com), March 20, 2002.

I first saw this article and it came with a map of the states that were effected at that time in January. If you look at the map (this is only my opinion)it seems to have hit the areas theat the government was saying they found whit powdery subtance and they ruled out Anthrax. I not saying that they are related in anyway but maybe someone should look into that being the cause.

-- konnie (dustmopbean@yahoo.com), March 21, 2002.


i'm a 44 year old male. i contracted a rash about one month ago. it's been terrible. itching, raw skin, spreading all over arms, legs, buttocks, thighs, ugh! i've been to md 3 times; last time dermatologist. i've had two cordozone (sic) shots, i'm on my 2nd cordozone pill program, now on two other meds. they don't know what it is. it's terrible.

-- (reskew@hotmail.com), March 23, 2002.

Hi,everyone. We are from Maine and it is here too.My son has it also started about 3-weeks ago,nothing seems to help,the Gold Bond cream seems to relieve it a little. I kept him out of school 3days in a row,seemed to clear up a bit then sent him to school on Thursday and the condition worsened,and had to pull him back out.It may very well be something in the schools,but have no idea.Anyone finds anything new please e-mail me.Thanks

-- Penny (tokaheya@yahoo.com), March 23, 2002.

Just finished talking with my mom and a friend of hers in Wisconsin and her husband have this same rash. They are in their 60's. I sure hope you folks find some relief from it.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), March 23, 2002.

Hello Kathy,My son goes to school at N. Tazewell Elementery in Tazewell Va.He has friend in school that spent a week in the hospital. He had avery high fever and a really badrash,espeacially around his face and ears.He also suffered some hairloss.I found out today in a conference with my kids teacher.But she would not tell me what he had.He is back in school now.

-- joyce a. Bandy (pikichu1@netcope.net), March 27, 2002.

I got the rash in Feb 2002 and had biopsy done, but no answers from the doctors. It started out as a red itchy spot and developed into red areas that turned purpleish and yellowish like a bruise. It itches like mad. I am on antibiotics, cortisone creams, antihistamine, but little improvement. My Blood test were all normal I am 70 and never sick until this. My wife who teaches school and who is exposed to all kinds of things does not have it. We eat the same foods, drink the same water, and breathe the same air. I sent pictures and details to CDC but got no answer. One Lady told me she had it for three years and the government and state officials studied her but could never prove anything She got over it in 1999. I am certain the government has covered this up for some time. It is in Canada, 18 states including Hawaii. Please write your representatives and demand action. ASend this to your mailing list so the government listens for once.

-- Ron Lester (slester@intercom.net), April 05, 2002.

I developed this mystery rash back in February. I have two small cousins Both in elementary school that developed it the same week. I am in Columbus Ohio. Doctors knew nothing. Thankfully it went away after 2 weeks. Rob

-- Rob (bluslicks@aol.com), April 08, 2002.

I've had this rash sice Thanksgiving. I was working in an insurance agency, handling large amounts of high demonination currency. In the beginning to December, I went to visit my ailing parents in Orlando. It worsened while I was there.

It is at my belt-line, elbows, buttocks, inner thighs and arms, and is a Job-like affliciction in that it gets slightly better then worsens. The itching is unbearable. I can't take steroids anymore, I'm getting by on Zyrtek and Benadryl, but I count the days until my next dermatologist appointment. I can't wear professional clothing, so I haven't worked since Christmas. I live in loose, silky pajamas, no underthings. My dermatologist has done biopsies, scrapings, everything, and no diagnosis.

I'm at my wit's end, tired of this endless suffering. Also, did anyone note that Jane Pauley had "chronic idiopathic pressure urticaria" and that is why she was off Dateline for six months? Her diagnosis means a rash of unknown cause that is irritated by wearing clothes. I wore clothes over Easter weekend quite a bit and am now paying for it with additional wheals and pain and itching.

SOMETHING is going on. Jane Pauley has access to the best physicians in the world. We all cope with our local docs. My cousin (a nurse) told me that 6000+ cases of this rash has been reported to the CDC. Five months I've been suffering, and I demand relief! How do we lobby the government to tell us the truth and treat us?

Thanks for listening.

Deb

-- Debby (Sugaree_44@hotmail.com), April 12, 2002.


I sent this letter to all the news chanels i could think of. and all the local/state politicians. Senator John Kerry (D), and CBS are the only two who took the time to respond

Mysterious school rash.

Hello, My name is Darlene Torre our family lives in Billerica, MA. I have a 6th grade student at Locke Middle School in Billerica, Massachusetts. Monday 4/1/02 students started coming down with this mysterious rash. Our daughter developed it on Tuesday 4/2/02. I took her to her pediatrician, and then to Children's hospital for a blood test. Her pediatrician told us she as Parvo-Virus, which is also known as Fifths Disease. Which the school denies is what any of the other states have had. The information we read that websites & the CDC provide states the opposite. Our daughter is 11 years old, had a pink rash on her face (looked like pink blush), a red bumpy rash on her chest, back and back of her neck, she was vomiting, had a low grade fever, severe stomach pain, and has been complaining of a headache for about 2 weeks. She also has other friends who have been vomiting and complaining of headaches for many weeks now. Many of her friends just have this mysterious rash that went away the next day or a few days later with no other symptoms. I gave this information to the school. The school sent home a note today telling parents just to send their kids to school even if they have the rash, and if they come down with the rash in school they will put calamine lotion on it and send them back to class. The school said they have cleaned the school and changed the air filters on the ventilation system. Most of the other states shut the school down for at least one day. I have spoken with the Board of Health who sent home the notice to have them stay in school with the rash, they advised me they don’t know if the children can get this again. The CDC website states they can be get this again after returning to school. Parents here in Billerica are left with no information and our children are exposed to something we know nothing about. We as concerned parents need some information and assistance with the school dept. Can you please help all of the parents here in Billerica, MA. and the many other states/schools that have come down with this mystery rash. What are the schools legally responsible to do to inform parents? What are the schools legally responsible to do to help keep the children from being re-infected? Today is 4/8/02 our daughter was fine over the weekend and when we sent her to school this morning. She came home from school with a rash and complaining of stomach ache again. Many of us don't understand why there isn't any indepth news coverage on this situation where it is so wide spread. There is only very small/local coverage of these insedences. Would 20/20 please, consider doing a story on this and getting out some information. Parents & children are scared. We know it is a rash now. But noone know seems to know anything about this, so how do we know there are no long term effects. How dod we know this is only a harmless rash. Why does it effect only schools? Why do some kids get it and others don't? Why have 12 states be infected with this? How come noone is doing anything? Why is it that if the CDC says it is harmless and there so many kids/schools/people infected and so many people needing answers that the president hasn't made some sort of speach? Is there information that the govt. offices have that they are hiding from the parents of these children infected?

Please contact me. Darlene Torre Billerica, Massachusetts

Today is 4/25 had to pick my daughter up at sschool today because she had such a severe rash. Last week was school vacation. She was fine, no rash at all. Guess that means the rash comes from somthing she is exposed to at her school.

-- Darlene Torre (travelttt@aol.com), April 25, 2002.


Hi everyone.im writting from chicago Illinois. Me and my girlfriend developed a rash origionally on our thighs, which then spread to under our arms and hands and feet. symtems appear to be masquito type bumps and clear type bumps. they itch ike crazy. we had went to the county hospital and been examined. We were told that it was a fungi hair infection and given antibiotic dioxcicllin for 10 days every 6 hours at 500 mg each. After tha treatment, there were some signs of clearing, but it didnt go away. 2 days latter its back but worse, spreading even further down my thighs. Cocoa butter seems to help with the itching after a hot, hot bath or shower. however the rash and pimples stay. This rash was researched on the internet and ive come up with the following possibilities. Its scabbies, siphlis, fungi hair infection, and 3 other forms of skin infections that are somewhat related. Honestly, with all my intelligence, and research I dont believe its any of these due to the fact,that dosters of the trained medical profession have studied these symptems for many years and should know on site and first hand experience. I was told that it was the hair infection it wasnt, i went back today now they say scabbies. what happens next if this treatment doesnt work? What happens when all the treatments dont work eventually? Im not distorting this, I am looking at this in a realistic manner with our coutry's presence of terorist threat. I want to add that i also have a friend who currently is running for office and his family generation has a line of politics as well. He came to visit me yester day and he happend to have the same symptoms as me and my girlfrind did. He had also just gotten out of the hospital for this with the treatment as i had for hair infection, his case is worse than mine, but he was reluctant to share extra information as to why how where and when. To conlude i think something is afloat in our country and as our constitution states that we are first and formost citizens and that we appoint officials to serve us in our country through their elections into office. I think they tend to forget who got them their and their true purpose. We have a right to know despite security! It was the American Hearts and Blood that made this Country what it is not them and them alone. We have the right as citizens to know so that we may take action in whole or by self-innititive, and any deceptiveness restraining this right can be viewed legally as a restraint of our liberty.

-- Joseph Walawski (macaws@ameritech.net), May 07, 2002.

We're in a small town near Louisville KY. Our 9 yr old broke out with mysterious rash. Started with a stomach ache one day. Rash followed 2 days later. Pediatrician says it does not look like Fifths. Area most affected was chest and legs, Fifths Rash mostly affects areas that are exposed. He only has a slight rash on cheeks, and that followed the other. He's allergic to latex so we thought he must have somehow become exposed. Now his little sister has exact same symptoms. Chest is area where rash is worst. She also had a stomach ache. Neither had sore throat or fever. School office says Fifths is going around but so is another mysterious rash. My children itch, and Antihistamines offer relief. Doctor said if it were Fifths, antihistamines would not be helping. What is it? Both are up to date on shots. Any ideas. We're a little nervous.

-- Cheri M (shemoya@insightbb.com), May 08, 2002.

I am in Middlesex Cty, in Massachusetts. I have had an itchy mosquito bite looking rash on my face for at least a month now. The bumps if squeezes have clear fluid. At first I thought it was pollen allergies. I used a Bendryl Gel to stop the itching and it seemed to work for a day or two but then my face got worse, more ulcerated. It is scabby, and seems to keep traveling across my cheeks, occasionally to my forehead. I am dreading going to work now. I have to cover it with makeup which doesn't seem to hurt it but theres seems to be no way to stop the reappearance of these horrible looking bumps. I haver not heard of Fifths, so I will do some research. I am glad I found this site.

-- D. Silva (dsilva@fcg.com), May 27, 2002.

can someone please send me pictures of the rash so i can see how it looks.

-- marishia sanders (lilrish25@yahoo.com), June 10, 2002.

Hi, my son has had this since Jan. we went to the doctors and did not seem to know what it was,He was given some cream for scabbies just in case and that really did not help,but seemed to dry some of it up. Then she put him on Penicillin,now he is cleared up completely,sometimes he has a little break out on hands and feet,but an antioxdant pills or tea seem to keep his system cleaned out and pure vitamin E oil really helps, let me know if anyone has tried this and what results you have..Thanks Penny

-- Penny (tokaheya@yahoo.com), June 29, 2002.

Hi. ok here is the whole story. The other day I took my puppy to the vets to get his shots and the vet saw some hair missing on the puppy and he did a skin test and he has mange! my point is that mange is a form of scabies. so he told me that I could not get this from him because this form of mange is in his blood..bad breeding.I left the vet and started iching my cheeks or jaw on both side of my face.It has been about four days and they have spread to my forehead. and hair line just alittle. I thought it was heat rash ..does anyone know.. thanks.

-- christine (patsfreak@earthlink.net), August 20, 2002.

Sounds like poison ivy or poison oak. Your dog could have rubbed on it, got it on his fur and you touched it and it spreads easy. I use household ammonia on a rag and rub the oil off before it spreads.I get this from my goats who brush against poison oak while they feed on brush. Rubbing Alcohol works also but not as good.Use different parts of the rag when applying ammonia , and wipe off with a dry part of the rag.It's spread real easy .Mange can be controled by feeding your pup whole eggs.It's usually a nutritional problem that causes mange.

-- SM Steve (Unreal@hm.com), August 21, 2002.

I contracted a strange rash. It is like a cluster of itchy raised pimple-like bumps. They aren't red, and they come and go, and also travel from buttocks, to back, to legs, to arms! It hasn't gotten to my face yet. It is worse at night, but lately I have been scratching at work. It's been about 3 weeks now. It started when i moved in with my in-laws. I don't have time to see a physician for then next couple of monthes. What is this?

-- jy (yakijy@aol.com), October 17, 2002.

Well I am back again,My son had cleared up from this rash with some pennicillin,and kept him on an antioxidant to keep his system cleared out.During the summer he was fine,now he is going back to school and is starting to break out again.It has effected me also and my younger son who just started pre-k.It is an irrating constant itchy problem that no-one seems to have an answer too.Little bumps on stomach, around the wrist,between fingers,back and legs,ALL OVER!! I was hoping FOX NEWS would have covered this but did not get a response.Let me know if anyone has any answers,Thanks!!

-- Penny Mauzerolle (tokaheya@msn.com), October 22, 2002.

My son just got the rash tonite, oct 23, he is five, he had a fever 2 days ago, the rash is itchy and looks like mosquito bites and big blisters on his face neck and body. he's really itchy! the nurse said it was viral. we tried an oatmeal bath.

-- donna (dejahthoris78@yahoo.com), October 23, 2002.

I have a mystery rash. My dermatologist kicked me out after 5 weeks and all kinds of tests. She said she was stumped. She has referred me to Duke University. But I'll have to start all over again with all kinds of tests, biosopy, meds, etc. I have little ant or mosquito like pustulas that itch like hell, develop a scab but the scab never seems to heal or fall off. The first outbreak came overnight with about 200 of these chicken pox like sores. Now I must have developed immunities or the antibiotics have helped because new outbreaks itch only for a few house instead of days, and they don't seem to be so angry. I've been tested for scabies, taken lice killer, given different antibiotics and steroid creams, antihistimes, etc. There is a website called morgellons@aol.com and these pictures look like mine. The little parasites or whatever they are that cause this look like what I have seen on my body. It is so scary. Judy

-- Judy Frey (damaris12@nc.rr.com), October 29, 2002.

Judy, it would appear that you might have a candida. you might want to go to a naturopathic doctor and do some test with yeat counts and such. It might be a good idea to check to see if your system is alkaline or acidic. if the later then you will need to balance your ph. less breads/wheat product (read less not no) much less refined sugars, that sort of thing. less red meat, more vegetables and fruits. don't starve yourtself or such nonsense, just eat better and smarter. there are naturopaths are are MDs, just look around.

-- me (me@nosuchplace.c), October 30, 2002.

Hello,I'm back again.well My oldest son had it first last year,then cleared up with Pennicillin,now it is back.He has it again and my youngest,me and my Husband.The CdC says it is a strand they have not seen before,says it is not harmful and not to worry.We have been tested and is not scabies,not fifth disease..no-one knows.But we have used a scabie cream did not work and other creams may relieve for a while.We were put on Pennicillin,but the rash comes back.Tried antioxdants and nothing works.The CDC probably knows more but is not telling us,this is everywhere,read the reports on how many schools closed because of this and the #of children that have suffered.I believe this is contagious,and not everyone is breaking out with psoriasis and exima,these are not contagious..But this is what most of the cases are ruled!!The problem is,is nobody knows-not even the doctors and we can't treat it if we do-not know what it is.I wish there was more info and that the CDC would let us know,I can't understand why this isn't made more public and why not so much of an interest with the news..

-- Penny Mauzerolle (tokaheya@msn.com), November 20, 2002.

We also had a "Mysterious Rash" in Redding, California back in December of 2000. It occurred at a nonprofit health clinic that was housed in an old county building. At one time the building was the county hospital.

Shasta County officials hired an industrial hygienist to investigate the cause of the rash. He found levels of fiberglass in four of twelve samples that were said to be "above the recommended irritant guideline" according to his report. The building had been undergoing demolition work on a ceiling and the hygienist stated there was lots of construction dust generated from the project. He also saw fiberglass insulation that had been cut.

The fiberglass levels didn't impress investigators and they eventually decided that "poison oak smoke" from a burn pile was to blame for the illness. The county officials stated that "urushiol" was found in the building. Urushiol is the oily irritant in poison oak. Only two of seven samples tested positive for urshiol.

Just yesterday (approximately two years later) our local newspaper announced that this very same building will be undergoing extensive asbestos abatement shortly. Asbestos was never mentioned once by the local media during the investigation of the rash back in 2000.

At this point I'm still wondering what actually caused our rash here in Redding, California. I'm not at all convinced of the "poison oak smoke" theory.

Funny how the smoke only affected the asbestos-filled, fiberglass contaminated building where demolition work was occurring. Must be some sort of "smart smoke".

More info..... http://www.shastalake.com/clinic http://www.redding.com/news/stories/20021126lo001.shtml

Eric Cassano

-- Eric Cassano (ecassano@shastalake.com), November 29, 2002.


I just recently heard of this "mystery rash". My son is 3 years old and has had a dry, scaly rash on his stomach, just under his belly button, for about 2-3 weeks now. It just feels like dry skin to me. He does say that it itches. He has had a couple days of fever and low-grade fever, but has'nt complained of anything else. I never even heard of Fifths Disease until today (1-1-03). But now I'm wondering if it might be that. I've been looking at every different article on it that Yahoo has, but nothing really sounds like what my son has. He does not have any spots or mosquito type bites, it's just dry and red.

-- Doni Snider (dls9872315@yahoo.com), January 01, 2003.

About a month ago, I started breaking out with what seemed to be similar to chigger or mesquito bites to the inner thigh and buttocks. It spread to just below my navel and to my crotch area. It itches like crazy!! Was even depriving me of sleep!! The doctor says it's some sort of bug bite. I'm not satisfied with that diagnosis, especially after reading the comments above. I'm taking Doxycycline. I've been taking it for 2 days now. Seems to be some relief. But a smaller rash seems to be moving down my thighs and around my waiste. The bumps and rash seem to be dry/scaley. Any suggestions or comments?

-- Country Gent (countrygent1961@yahoo.com), January 09, 2003.

Hi everyone, I have been fighting this mysterious illness for quite some time now. I have these discolored spots on my arms, feet (especially) and legs. my doctor says that it must be Fungus Hair disease, but I am not buying it. I have been to the doctor twice so far and he gives me the same medication, Taro.

What can I do?

-- Reginald Gist (Maximamanreg@msn.com), April 04, 2003.


I got this rash about 3 months ago, it seems to be directly related to heat. If I do anything active or if my body temperature raises in the slightest the rash appears. It occurs on my entire body other than hands, bottom of feet and face.

It's small individual red dots, the itching is mild but it is very painful when the rash occurs I get a hot painful prickly feeling. My doctors have been absolutely no help each diagnosis seems like a stretch and nothing has worked. I am getting worried with summer on its way, we had a 70 degree day last weekend and I couldn't go outside with out getting it. I would appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks!

-- Weldon Richardson (wtrichardson@attbi.com), April 04, 2003.


I got a weird rash a month ago, real light spots that I noticed on my arms first and spread to my stomach and almost all over. I thought i ate something that caused an allergic reaction, but after like 2 days, it went away, however, after the rash left, I got the worst joint pain ever. I am 20 and very healthy and I felt like 100 years old. from my joints in my fingers to my ankles. I couldn't even open a soda bottle. it was horrible. after three days (I had to wait it out because I don't have insurance) I was freaking out because i thought I'd always stay like that. but after those three days, the pain disappeared. I was relieved, but then a week later, my mom got the rash and then the horibble joint pain. coincidence, I think not. Now she has insurance and teh joint pain was lasting longer because she's older, so she went to the doctor and i went with her, the doctor said it was probably fifths disease. So we chalked it up to that and figured it would pass, but now I am getting a recurring rash. same as before, thank God the joint pain isn't here, I'm scared of that happening again. but it's so hot here. i live in El Paso, Tx and the rash seems to act up more around warm weather or after i get out of a warm shower. any ideas? it's so weird. especially that my mom got it too.

-- Joyanna Jomaa (angelofmay@hotmail.com), April 16, 2003.

The mystery rash is back in Maine....

A friend of mine has two young sons that have it. All the doctor keeps saying is that it is viral. I am terribly concerned. I have six children and the youngest two have Cystic Fibrosis.

My friend says it looks and feels itchy just like chicken pox. They are going on their third week of it. It did go away for about a week and then reappeared this weekend.

Since her boys have gotten it, we have found many more cases of it locally...

Why won't the doctors tell us what this really is????

-- Carol (clmmomof6@aol.com), April 23, 2003.


If your child is infected with fifth disease, he will die of resperitory comlications. There is treatment to slow down the effects but the is nothing to stop them. Your child will die months after first signs of infection

-- Mildrid lowe (MDLOWWE@medicalfirst.com), May 12, 2003.

nobody dies from fifth disease, come on and how dare you tell someone their child will die from it. do your homework. i have 5 kids ages 8 and under and 4 of them got fifth disease, baby did not. that was months ago and everyone is fine. it takes awhile to go away, just be patient. it's a virus, everyone at school had it and there were no complications. school was aware of it. when the fever is gone, they are not contagious, but the rash begins. i even consulted the doctors about it. webmd.com is a good reference to go to for medical concerns.

-- Dee (guzhab@charter.net), May 12, 2003.

my son is 12 and half and was just diagnosed with fifths disease. we live in oklahoma and i have never heard of it. all i know is that 2 weeks ago he was very very sick. fever, vomiting. he missed school for the whole week. then last week he was pretty much fine. some headache and a low grade fever off and on all week like 99.something. then last nite he got a 100.4 temp and was vomiting again. then today he got the rash. i took him into the emergency room and they told me that he has fifths disease. and that it was going around the schools. my sons best friend missed school today with a 102 degree fever.....fifths disease maybe? we shall have to wait and see.

-- dawn lott (dawnlott@hotmail.com), May 12, 2003.

Sounds like everyone has rockwool fiberglass that is infected with bird and/or bat guano with a fungal plume due to moisture in the attic. In the case of the schools, what remoldeling was done? It comes and goes, some say. When visitors live in the attic they go out to eat and they stir up the rockwool. Bats and many small birds species inhabit our homes. Rockwool was banned by the EPA. Too late for us, it was the replacement of choice when asbestos was removed. Problem=particles are half the size of asbestos. When the particles are covered with fungus and/or guano(which may contain over a 1000 bacteria and microscopic nematodes)and the fiberglass penetrates the skin, all the secondary infections occur. It gets you at the intake manifold, ie: your mouth and nose, then your hands and arms which are exposed. Then it stays in your clothes and you take it home or its in your home. Wash and dry all clothing to tender heat. This will kill the bacteria and melt the particles into glass balls. Blow dry the hair to the root. Hot weather makes it worse because your pores are open wide. We all know that fiberglass should be washed off in cold water. Taking steroids and antibiotics only serves to weaken your immune system. Eat lots of plain yogurt to get it back. Olive oil, yellow squash, garlic are just a few of the foods that kills fungus in the bloodstream. Bentonite clay powder will draw out the toxins. I mix my mud bath with french green clays for it stays on better. Bentonite is used for serin liquid spills. Also takes out benzenes, toluenes, herbicides and pesticides. Best thing to do is look around for this fiberglass. I've read all this webpage and most of the symptoms descibed lead me to this. I have just completed a video on this subject. Shower first in cold water. If you burn just after your shower, look at your shower nosel. Is there an open space into the wall? Could the attic insulation be blowing onto your fresh open hot pores of skin? There are many fungus that cause the skin to itch, crack and bleed. Cover up? Perhaps. But you don't have to live beneath rockwool. When the people know about this rockwool being half the particle size of asbestos there will be panic and high distrust. Rockwool is held together by a mineral oil. This in itself can harbor many flesh eating bacteria. Fungus under the skin itches like crazy as it seeks another fungal spore to grow a sex pilli to. You see the oozing? This is you skin attempting to "Wash itself" Help it out. Avoid sugar as it feeds fungus. Write me at P.O.Box 3541 Galveston, Texas 77552 for a copy of the video. Due to very brief nudity, the graphic nature and a little language it is rated R. Sincerely, Mariann L King BS, ARB

-- mariann king (mariannking@sbcglobal.net), June 10, 2003.

Hi everyone,

My name is Jose and i am a a sailor of the United States Navy. Just recently came back from a ten month deployment on the USS Abraham Lincoln in support of operation Iraqi Freedom. Like a lot of people who have written about this mysterious rash on this web page, I too am suffering with a mysterious rash or hives. For the last month since i came back from my deployment and got back to my home base in Virginia. At first i thought i was allergic to something new like laundry detergents, soap, skin lotions, colognes etc. but i avoided all of the possibilities possible to no improvement. So i decided to go to the medical on my ship and have them take a look at it. They prescribed me with the following medications Prednisolone 20 mg and Zyrtec 10 mg to take for a week and to have a follow up visit. Well the medications control the hives to the extent that they did not swell anymore, but they still appeared all over my hands, legs, chest and back. When i returned the following week to see the doctor they referred me to the Dermatologist at a bigger Naval hospital. There they did not really know what it was so they suggested they do a biopsy and for me to return for the results next week. They took a sample of skin from my upper left arm and another sample from my lower back. Hopefully they may be able to advise me on what can i do to treat this and i may be able to share with you my experience. Should you have any other questions please feel free to email me. We are on the same boat, maybe we could help each other on this mysterious skin condition. Thank you for listening...

-- Jose D. Maldonado (navyanchorjd@yahoo.com), June 12, 2003.


This strange rash is also in Canada. I thought it was allergies, but allergie medications are not working. I am covered in hivelike clusters from my thighs, buttocks and lower back, and some on my ankles. Nothing the Dr perscribes has worked. I also had a rash from December 2002-March 2003which my Dr could not diagnose and cortizone creams did not work - this was a small bump on my finger which multiplied into more little bumps until my fingers, upper hand and wrists were red and raw to the point of bleeding. Amazingly it finally went away almost overnight.

-- Jacqueline (Heather_forest@hotmail.com), July 21, 2003.

Hi,

I developed this rash about 3 weeks ago. It started on my stomach and spread to my chest, hands and legs. Ver less on back. None on face and feet and back of palms or fingers. The max size is a size of penny. Itching comes first and then they develope in to hives. Dermatalogist said she heard of this and only gave me an ointment. If your enterested i will email the name of it.The first hive is still there and it became a penny size now. The ones on the thigh are bigger. Itence itching on chest after shower and before you go to bed. Please email if anyone heard of any cure. --Bob

-- Bob Miller (rmalla2001@yahoo.com), August 09, 2003.


Well, I don't know if this is the answer or not, but i started tanning in a tanning bed. I know this is unhealthy but nothing else was working. I don't know if it was the tanning bed or the cream Eladil that I started using as well, but nothing, I mean nothing, was working. Was horrible at night--the worst itching and scratching cycles ever. When I tanned i started off very slowly and worked up to about 14 minutes every 2 days or so. I now just go once a week. My goal is not to have a tan, but to not itch!!

-- susan (atkins981@comcast.net), August 15, 2003.

hello i am a mother of 4 children plus I run a day care with nine additional children, a week ago my two year broke out with a pimple like rash amost like chicken pox. That's what I thought it was till my 6 year old broke out a day later he's aready had chicken pox and has had the shot. I had planned on taken them into the doctor that evening when my 10 yr old and my husband develop a small case of the rash. now my 2 year old had all over body and my 6 yr old was covered on one side. The doctor told me they were bug bites, problem here is we just bomb our house and cleaned our carpets. No possible way they are bug bites. They are itchy, some what painfull and we have had a summer like cold floating around for over a week. Unsure if they are connected, Well now a week later I have the rash which starts on your belly, back, butt and under your arms. I have been doing some research but coming up with nothing that fits. Our town has had a recent brake out of mrsa but the research I have done proves that what we have is not that. If you have any information on this please contact me.

-- Angela Vincent (kirbiemar@yahoo.com), August 18, 2003.

Has anyones doctor done a test for scabbies? My sister-in-law and her daughter had a rash and went to the doctor and tested positive for scabbies. They not dirty or anything like that she suspects the dog brought it into the home but the vet says he has fleas, can't be that cause he's on monthly meds but the dog is itching like crazy. Just a thought.

-- Heather (heatherdoll40@hotmail.com), September 05, 2003.

Hi there. I am amazed how much I can relate to these peoples stories about this Mystery Rash. I am in Canada and have had this terrible skin problem since July 24th, 2003. I have been to MD's, skin specialists, naturopath doctors to no avail! I have tried special creams, special bath products, special soaps, special vitamins, special diets, special teas, special everything! and to date there has been no relief. I am still having these breakouts! I have no idea what is going on and neither do the doctors. I have another appt with another skin specialist for a second opinion on Dec 10th. I am baffled!!

-- Anita J (ajmSaskatoon@shaw.ca), November 25, 2003.

Its been well over a year now and I still have the same rash on my leg. It almost went away in August but has been getting worse. It has stayed in virtually the same place near my ancle in a circle about the size of an orange. I have scratched it so much that the skin is discolored in areas where the rash has been gone for a while. Its scared. Please email me if you have any info on whats going on. BTW I live right outside of Washington, DC

-- Itchy leg (incolumbia@hotmail.com), December 28, 2003.

Dear persons, I can be reached at 936-685-5999. 24/7 No one needs to suffer. My voice may be a little scratchy when I first wake up.

-- mariann l king (mariannlking@eastex.net), January 26, 2004.

I am a 49 year old woman living in San Jose, Ca. Tonight I was watching the local TV Station: KTVU broadcast in the Bay Area. They ran a story about a mysterious skin disorder that has been turning up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have been suffering with all the symptoms described on the news story and on the Morgellous Website. I started having symptoms about one year ago and thought that I had contracted lice or scabies. I was seen initially by my OBGYN who diagnosed my skin disorder as ingrown hairs. I later went to the emergency room at a local hospital here and was in fact diagnosed as having Delusional Parisitosis. Because I have been diagnosed as being BiPolar (mental illness for which I am currently taking antidepressant drugs for almost 8-9 years) the doctor at the hospital accused me of digging at myself in order to get attention. However she did prescribe lice treatment products that I did indeed use. My condition somewhat cleared up but has been most recently become extremely worse in the past 9 months. Most of my lesions are located on my buttocks, inner thighs, and thighs. The "eggs" are present and the black "filaments"are apparent as well as the tiny black, blue, and red specks. I also noticed the white "eggs" on my eyelashes and the black "filaments" coming forth from my tear duct area. Last week my eye was swollen and painful. I finally broke down and purchased a lice treatment kit. I thought that I had lice of some kind. I rubbed the lotion all over and my body was covered with those dark "textile- like filaments"....which I considered to be the lice! It was almost like I had worn black clothes and the lint had rubbed off all over my body. While I was applying the treatment the "filaments" and "specks" started to appear everywhere! Since this all began I was reluctant to go back to see a doctor as per what had happened the last time I sought medical attention. I was also very embarrassed with how my skin looked. I am now terrified as to what steps I should undertake at this time and I am also concerned and clueless as to what doctors I need to contact. If you can direct me as to what I should do next. I have spent hours researching the causes of my problem alone on the Internet for many weeks now and it is a relief to know that I am suffering from a very real and frightening skin condition. Thank You, Wendy e Tripp 3063 Markingdon Ave. San Jose, CA 95127 (408) 929-7612 or (408) 288-6248

-- Wendy e Tripp (WETRIPP666@aol.com), March 03, 2004.

This is all I know: I live in little Rock , Arkansas~ I have a good friend that has had this terrible rash, looks like scratched at chicken-pox ALL over her body, she has been diagnosed with Scabbies. The other people in my neighborhood also have this same ugly sore- itchy rash, and and i have also seen people in other areas, such as store clerks, cafe waiter etc. that have these open sores all over their arms and face. I am in contact with my friend, spend time at her home and have not contacted this myself. I am wondering why I havent? About a year ago, I babysat a friends son that had a large circle that was raised on his chest, it was red and itched alot and over a week it got larger. I thought it was ringworm, I took him to the emergency room, but they said it wasn't ring worm , although they administered the same meds as if it was. It went away eventually, yet, he and his sister have chronic flu-like symtoms to this day. like chronic fatigue. I believe this is not scabbies, nor anything else the doctors are telling the general public. I believe it is germ-warfare. and I don't believe there is anything any of us can do about it at this point Pray, Paula

-- Paula Ammons (atrandom04@aol.com), March 10, 2004.

To Wendy e Tripp, about 6 months ago, my oldest daughters best friend was diagnosed with scabbies. My daughter had aquired the same symptoms a few weeks prior to her freinds diagnosis, which by the way, her symptoms had been gradually worsening over approximately 3 months time and she was mis-diagnosed on several different attempts to resolve this issue. I took both of my daughters to the pediatricians, this being the third time they were examined by a physician, this time I told the doctor of their friend who just tested positive for scabbies and he, from clear across the room, ask that they raise their shirt,he never got any closer than 5 feet from them to look at their rash. He proclaimed quickly that they did have scabbies and prescribed (Acticin permethrin cream 5%). At this time I did not have any symptoms what so ever on me, but nevertheless participated in the treatment which requires you to put the cream on "from the neck, down to the bottom of your feet". As soon as I had covered about half of my body with this cream, a knot, about the size of a golfball with the same hardness as a golfball, protruded from one of my lymph node glands that is located in the pelvic area. This knot did not decrease in size for almost a week and was exremely painful. Myself, like many other fellow "blurbians" do not have insurance and am struggling my way through college, therefore am not able to afford a visit to the doctors office. In this one week time span after performing the treatment, I am steadily freaking out on the thought of these nasty critters being in my home and I am steadily cleaning everything possible, bleached everything bleachable, bagged up everything to big to fit into the washing machine (for ten days as per told by physician.) The day I finally had decided that there was no possible way any critters could still be present, I noticed myself having these tracks or burrows all over my body, they were on my forehead, in the hairline, two sores appeared under each of my nostriles, and both of my ears were covered in scabes. I was furious that the pediatrician had informed and assured me that these were not only easy and as simple as only needing a one time treatment to cure this, but the fact that he had also stressed the fact that they do not inhabit the areas above ones neck. I called the pediatricians' office and requested another prescription be called in and we all three did the treatment again, only this time we put it all over our necks and face and ears. This time I was going to make sure that the medicine was rubbed in real good because I had thought that it may had rubbed off from my clothes on the prior dosage. This is when I noticed that there were little black dots that when first seen, when they were still beneath the skins surface, they looked like, for example, a piece of pencil lead that has been broken off in ones skin. That is what I would see first and then the "black dot" would surface and look much like a peice of fuzz or lint. Imediately I started to freak and I called my nephew into the room to verify that I wasn't loosing it. He was astound at the sight and confirmed that I was not imagining anything. Through hours of research I have learned much about scabbies and various other skin diseases. Some of the facts that I can't shake about this mite is that it is the human form of the mange bug and that the term, "the seven year itch", come from prior bouts battled with this demon. I really dont know what to think about the contribution that animals may pertain but we do have two cats, and I was just recently told by a Physician that I need to dip them as well and we are about to do yet another treatment and treat the cats as well. Hopefully this time will be the last. I will let you all know how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed for me and maybe even say a prayer, because God know I need all the help I can get with this matter. I am about at my wits end with it all.

Kim Smith

-- Kim Smith (ptcbratt@aol.com), March 12, 2004.


once again the mystery rash has hit another school, dracut,ma, and they shut the school down for cleaning and testing. this mystery rash has hit 14 states and many schools but turns up no answers. today they reopened the school saying kids were fine but my daughter made them call me to come get her, the nurse said she was fine but when i got there 20 or so children were waiting to see a doctor that they brought in for tests and were not allowing them to call parents or go home, i confronted the doctor and asked what was going on and still did not get answers so i took my daughter home. you would think that after so many schools they would do something or have an answer it is NOT phsycosamatic as now i can see it plianly on my daughter. so if any one has new info please let me know too.

-- lisa pultar (screaminflea2003@aol.com), April 05, 2004.

Dear Lisa,

I read about the mystery rash that appeared in Dracut a couple of weeks ago and it sounds like the same thing that appeared in our local school here in Pennsylvania in early March. We only had about 30 girls break out with the rash and most cleared up within a few days. However, my daughter still has some small bumps on her upper arms from the rash. I brought her to the doctor twice and they tested for strep. The results came back negative. The doctor seemed to think that it was just something she came in contact with and she had an alergic reaction. That does not explain why all 30 cases affected girls only. I continuously asked the administration about the rash and I got the run around. I finally contacted the assistant superintendant of schools and found out that all the school did was clean some gymnasium mats that they suspected to be the cause. They performed no tests of the mats or anything else in the school. When I notified the local Health department to find out if there were any other cases in the area, they were not even aware that the school had an outbreak. I notified them 5 days after the initial outbreak. I believe that the school was not planning on notifying the health depatment at all. There were no newspaper articles or news broadcasts about it either. They claim they did not want to cause a "panic" over something that turned out to be nothing more than an irritating rash. I was told there were two notices sent home with the children but I only saw one and when I asked the school secretary for a copy of the second letter that went home, she was not aware that a second notice was sent out. I point blank told the principal that I felt the situation was handled poorly and told him what I thought should have been done. I also told him about the recent cases in Dracut and he seemed uninterested. People around here don't like outsiders and don't take too well to advice offered to them by outsiders. I have lived here for about 8 years now and still don't feel at home here. I really wish I could move back to Massachusetts but it's just too expensive.

-- Ginette Prendergast (glprendergast@yahoo.com), April 16, 2004.


My son is 8yr old, almost 9. He hasn't had an appetite for the last three days and this evening my wife noticed a rash on his arms, back and chest area, mostly on the arms. He has also been complaining of a mild upset stomach.

What has us confused is that he seems ok, except the lack of appetite and stomach ache. He will of course see a doctor tomorrow.

ps.. This is happening over a weekend so we do not know if other kids in his school are having similar problems.

-- Mike Mazzola (rolaid@satx.rr.com), April 25, 2004.


I have gone thru hell and back trying to find myself a cure as Doctors stamp you as crazy when they can't link it to a known parasite. Please check out http://www.morgellons.org/ which is a wesite dedicated to this unknown disease/pathogen/fungus? by several Doctors who listened to their patients and our conducting research on a probable link to Lyme disease as @ 95% of the patients infested with this test positive for Lyme disease antibody and it might denegrate your skin's immunity to allow for this strange but dibilitating disease.

http://www.morgellons.org/

http://www.ktvu.com/video/2888865/detail.html

http://www.ktvu.com/video/3293470/detail.html

-- Shelly Lyons (s.lyons@comcast.net), May 22, 2004.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ