“A threat to public health.” Warnings about a rare, difficult-to-treat infection that spreads through sexual contact

A team of doctors has raised the alarm about the spread of a rare and dangerous fungal infection spread through sex, after treating a man who developed a rash on his penis, thighs and buttocks.

New York University experts described the infection, a rare type of ringworm, as a "potential public health threat."

Ringworm is a common mold-like parasite that lives on the body and is spread by contact with an infected person. Treating this condition can be very difficult.

It was reported that the patient (in his 30s) visited the doctor because he developed a rash on his penis, thighs and buttocks after having sex with several males.

The patient reported recent travel to England and Greece, where he said he had sex with several men.

After taking a biopsy of the rash area, he was diagnosed with ringworm in the inguinal or so-called "jock itch", which is transmitted through sexual contact.

This condition is caused by the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII).

Initially, the man was given an antifungal medication for 4 weeks, but he did not notice any improvement, and then he was subjected to another 6-week course of antifungal treatment.

He then underwent a third antifungal treatment for several more weeks, until the rash disappeared.

“Health care providers should be aware that this condition is the latest in a group of severe skin infections that have now arrived in the United States,” said lead author and dermatologist Dr. Avrum Kaplan, a professor at New York University School of Medicine.

“Because patients are often reluctant to discuss reproductive problems, doctors need to ask directly about rashes around the groin and buttocks,” said the study's senior author, Dr. John Zampella, a professor at New York University School of Medicine.

Although infections caused by TMVII are difficult to treat and can take months to resolve, they appear to respond effectively to standard antifungal treatments, Zampella added.

Ringworm can affect the skin, hair and nails, and can also be spread via contaminated surfaces such as shower stalls or shared barber scissors.

Symptoms usually appear within 4 to 14 days after exposure, and include an itchy, circular-looking rash, as well as red, peeling, or cracked skin.

The results were published in JAMA Dermatology.