Health officials have issued a warning about a new case of ringworm, likely transmitted sexually, reported in New York City. This is the first such case in the U.S.
As reported by Fox News, the infection, a rare fungus known as trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), was found in a man in his 30s.
The man, who had sexual encounters with multiple men during his travels to England, Greece, and California, developed a red, itchy rash on his penis, legs, groin, and buttocks upon his return. The rash resembled eczema rather than the typical circular pattern of a ringworm fungal skin infection.
The man was diagnosed with the fungus and prescribed standard antifungal oral medications. However, it took his body four and a half months to eliminate the infection. He initially took fluconazole for four weeks without any improvement, then switched to terbinafine for six weeks, and finally itraconazole for eight weeks.
Dr. Avrom Caplan, an assistant professor of dermatology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and co-author of the report, reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm. He emphasized that if individuals experience persistent itchy rashes in areas like the groin, they should consult a doctor.
John Zampella, another co-author of the study, urged physicians to proactively inquire about rashes around the groin and buttocks, particularly in patients who are sexually active, have recently traveled abroad, or report itchy areas on other parts of their body.
The man’s case is the first recorded in the U.S., following 13 similar cases reported in France last year. The man had sexual encounters with multiple male partners during his travels, none of whom reported similar skin issues.
Caplan suggested that the infection was likely transmitted through sexual contact, but he did not rule out the possibility that the man contracted the fungus at a sauna he visited two months before his symptoms appeared.
The study also noted an increase in male genital fungi in India, coinciding with the emergence of a slightly different form of ringworm called trichophyton indotineae. Factors such as climate, hygiene, bathing practices, and sexual contact likely contribute to the spread of this fungus.
Health experts caution that the infection causes rashes similar to TMVII, which are itchy and contagious. This poses a significant challenge for dermatologists as it often resists terbinafine treatment.