A SEXUALLY transmitted ringworm caused by a rare fungus has been reported for the first time in the US. The infection, called trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), has also been on the rise in Europe. Ringworm , sometimes referred to as jock itch when it affects the groin, is a mould-like parasite that lives on the skin and is spread via contact with an infected person.
Despite its name, ringworm doesn’t have anything to do with worms. The condition is not fatal but this new strain is very hard to treat and can result in permanent scarring, experts have warned. The new case, published in the journal JAMA Dermatology involved a New York City man in his 30s who reported having sex with several men during a trip to England, Greece and California.
When he got home, he developed a red, itchy rash on his legs, groin, and buttocks. After taking a skin biopsy of his rash, doctors diagnosed him with tinea puborectalis, a rare sexually transmitted form of jock itch. While ringworm has been observed in the groin area before, experts said this is the first time the bug had been transmitted to the area through sexual contact.
The condition was caused by (TMVII) fungus , and cases are on the rise throughout Europe - particularly among men who have sex with men. Experts from New York University (NYU) who write the report have warned this new "highly contagious" form of ringworm is a "potential public health threat". Doctors in France reported 13 cases of the fungus last year, acco.
