Report: Rare sexually transmitted fungal infection found in New York City

It can take months for a TMVII infection to heal.

A new and highly infectious strain of the fungus has put health authorities on high alert after a New York man in his 30s was found to have contracted the sexually transmitted disease ringworm. This is the first case ever reported in the country, according to The New York Post.

“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,” said Dr. Avrom S. CaplanAssistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Dr. Caplan recently published a case study with a co-author about a man who became infected with TMVII and developed rashes on his genitals, buttocks, and extremities.

Accordingly The New York Postthe incidence of TMVII has increased in Europe, particularly among men who have sex with men. The person involved in the study had traveled to England, Greece and California, where he had sexual activity with men, none of whom reported similar skin conditions.

“Because patients are often hesitant to discuss genital problems, physicians need to ask directly about rashes in the groin and buttocks area, especially in sexually active patients who have recently traveled abroad and report itchy spots elsewhere on the body,” advises lead study author Dr. John G. Zampella.

Zampella noted that infections caused by TMVII seem to respond to standard antifungals such as the drug terbinafine (also known as Lamisil), but can take months to clear. They can also be confused with lesions caused by eczema, which can delay treatment. Another itchy and contagious skin infection that causes rashes similar to TMVII poses more of a challenge for dermatologists.