First U.S. Cases Of Sexually Transmitted Ringworm Reported In NYC Doctors

Recently, New York City doctors identified the first cases of sexually transmitted ringworm in the United States, a new trend in the transmission of this fungal infection. As the name suggests, there are no worms involved. The fungus responsible for this disease is Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It can cause itchy, round rashes usually referred to as jock itch or athlete's foot when occurring in the groin or feet.

The infection is usually acquired by contact with other body parts through non-sexual skin-to-skin contact or contaminated surfaces. It has only been very rare to observe sexual transmission of the fungus. Recent cases involving the specific subtype of the fungus, TMVII, have led to concerns regarding its ability to spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. The first reported cases of TMVII infections by sexual contact in Southeast Asia and France starting 2021. For this year, it entered the U.S., where the first case occurred last June and four cases happened in New York City by July 2024.

A news agency report quoted five men in their 30s, who were gay or bisexual, as sexually contacting other men in the past month. "The rash appeared on the face, buttocks or genitals of the patients and was easily treated with antifungal medications," said a team of researchers led by dermatologist Dr Avrom Caplan, of NYU Langone Health in New York City, according to the US News report.

Dr Avrom and his team published its results Oct. 31 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a journal of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

TMVII presents with a red, round, and itchy rash easily mistaken for conditions like eczema or psoriasis. A laboratory test is required to confirm the infection as T. mentagrophytes, which may require complete elimination from the skin completely, possibly taking some few weeks after treatment by using oral antifungal medication. Normally, up to three months of antifungal medication is required and follow up continues until the rash becomes completely clear. It will be dangerous if the infection subjects allow transmission of this disease to others through physical touching, considering that its proliferation can occur when a skin infection exists.

For those people who could be infected, the scientists at Caplan's team tell them to keep away their skin from all the other people until the infection is treated. Also, they should not share personal things with other people. This is because the fungi do stay on surfaces and could lead to infection. The infection worsens and does not soothe when steroid creams are applied on the rash.

Caplan's team emphasized that awareness is needed in healthcare professionals and sexually active people. Since TMVII can be transmitted via sexual contact, early diagnosis of symptoms and proper treatment should be recognized. Since ringworm is curable, the delay or inappropriate treatment might prolong recovery and potentially spread the infection.