US health experts are sounding the alarm over highly contagious fungal strains after a recent case emerged in New York City, where a man in his 30s contracted a sexually transmitted form of ringworm. This marks the first reported case of its kind in the United States.
Dr. Avrom S. Caplan, an assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s dermatology department, emphasized the significance of the situation. “Healthcare providers should be aware that Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII [TMVII] is the latest in a group of severe skin infections to have now reached the United States,” he was quoted as saying by the New York Post.
The case study, co-authored by Caplan and published Wednesday, detailed the experience of an unidentified New Yorker who contracted TMVII, exhibiting a rash on his penis, buttocks, and limbs. TMVII cases have been increasing in Europe, particularly among men who have sex with men.
The man who contracted the STD had traveled to England, Greece, and California, engaging in sexual activities with multiple partners who did not disclose similar dermatological issues. Dr. John G. Zampella, senior author of the study, advised healthcare practitioners to inquire about rashes around the groin and buttocks, especially among sexually active individuals with recent international travel history and complaints of pruritus elsewhere on the body.
While infections induced by TMVII generally respond to standard antifungal therapies like terbinafine, their resolution may take several months. The similarity between “TMVII lesions” and those associated with “eczema” can pose diagnostic challenges, potentially delaying appropriate treatment. Another contagious skin infection, Trichophyton indotineae, is proving challenging for dermatologists.
This strain, endemic in India and recently identified in the US, shows resistance to terbinafine treatment. According to The Post, data from 11 patients treated for Trichophyton indotineae between May 2022 and May 2023 revealed that standard doses of terbinafine failed to clear the rashes, possibly due to genetic mutations in the fungus. While itraconazole showed better efficacy, caution is warranted due to its potential adverse effects, including nausea and diarrhea.
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