US reports first case of rare sexually transmitted form of ringworm in 30-year-old man | Health News

The new infection is reportedly highly contagious. A sexually transmitted ringworm caused by a rare fungus has been reported for the first time in the United States. Check the symptoms

It is the first time that such a fungus has been identified in the USA (Image: Freepik)

New Delhi: A man in New York has been diagnosed with a new form of ringworm that is transmitted through sexual intercourse. The new infection is reportedly highly contagious. Sexually transmitted ringworm, caused by a rare fungus, has been reported in the United States for the first time. On Wednesday, the case report was published in JAMA Dermatology by doctors at NYU Langone Health in New York City.

The man who contracted the virus is in his 30s and said he had sex with several men during a trip to England, Greece and California. After returning, he reportedly developed a red, itchy rash on his legs, groin and buttocks. He was subsequently given several tests and was found to have a sexually transmitted fungus called Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII.

It is the first time such a fungus has been discovered in the United States. Last year, doctors in France reported 13 cases of this fungus, and 12 of those patients were men who have sex with men. However, experts have reportedly noted that there is a rise in difficult-to-treat fungal infections worldwide. According to a new study, despite its name, ringworm is not a worm that is transmitted through sexual contact.

What is Trichophyton mentagrophytes?

Trichophyton mentagrophytes is a type of fungus that is a transmissible pathogen. It affects both animals and humans. T. mentagrohphytes is found in a variety of environments and infections can take several forms. In a study, Dr. Avrom Caplan, assistant professor in the dermatology department at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said healthcare providers should be aware that Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII) is the latest in a group of serious skin infections that have now reached the United States.

Symptoms of the fungus

The study’s co-author noted that a man who was infected with the fungus developed a rash on his penis, buttocks, and limbs as a result of the infection. The most common symptoms of ringworm include:

• Itchy skin.
• Annular rash.
• Red, flaky, cracked skin.
• Hair loss.