A difficult-to-treat sexually transmitted fungal infection is worrying researchers. The fungus has previously been found in Europe and now the first case has been detected in the USA.
The fungal infection Trichophyton mentagrophytes, a type of ringworm, appears to mainly infect men who have sex with men, according to reports from the American disease control authority CDC. Last year, 13 cases were reported in France, which researchers believe were likely infected through sex, and now the first case has been confirmed in the USA.
Itchy Rashes
In the American case, reported in Jama Dermatology, a 30-year-old man is described who is believed to have been infected after travelling to Greece and the UK. On his return, he developed itchy rashes in his groin, on his legs, and on his buttocks. After being treated with three different anti-fungal medications, he improved, but only after more than four months.
As similar fungal infections have proven difficult to treat, researchers are now warning that it may be a sign of resistance to fungal treatments.
Contact Healthcare
Fungal infections like ringworm are often spread from humans or pets. The doctors reporting on the American case write that it is likely a sexually transmitted infection, but the man may have been infected in a sauna. They write that they do not want to alarm people, but want to alert the public and healthcare professionals that there is a fungus that can be sexually transmitted.
Aaron Caplan, professor of dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and one of the report's authors, tells NBC News that it is unlikely to be a widespread outbreak.
"But anyone who has itchy areas in their groin that do not go away should contact healthcare," he says.
