First case of sexually transmitted ringworm in the USA

A rare fungus recently caused the first case of sexually transmitted ringworm in the United States. As reported Wednesday in JAMA Dermatology, a new study led by doctors at NYU Langone Health concluded that the case was a New York man in his 30s.

The unnamed man had sex with multiple men in multiple countries during a recent trip, NBC News reported. When he returned home to England, Greece and California, he developed an itchy rash on his legs, groin and buttocks. Tests revealed the red rash was first seen in this country – Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines ringworm as a common fungal infection of the hair, skin or nails. Athlete’s foot is perhaps the most well-known form. One of the most common causes of the infection, which can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and shared objects, is the fungus Trichophyton.

According to an assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and author of the report, there is no cause for concern for the general public about the new case.

“There’s no evidence that this is widespread or that this is something that people really need to be concerned about,” Dr. Avrom Caplan told NBC News. “But if people have itchy rashes in areas like the groin and it doesn’t get better, they should see a doctor.”

Symptoms of ringworm often include itching and scaly, ring-shaped red or purple rashes. The New York man, who has Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII, received oral antifungal treatments.

It took 4.5 months for the infection to completely clear, and the man’s condition did not improve during the first four weeks of treatment.

Jeremy Gold, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC who was not involved in the study, told NBC News that the new case is “notable” because it shows that health care professionals should consider mushrooms as a possible source of sexually transmitted diseases.

“It often happens that these patients receive multiple courses of antibacterial medications, but these do not relieve the fungal infection,” he said. “Doctors should keep this in mind so that patients receive the appropriate treatment.”