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In a startling development for public health, New York City has reported the first U.S. case of a new sexually transmitted fungal infection. The discovery has triggered concern among health professionals and researchers, given the infection’s potential for rapid spread and resistance to conventional treatments.
As NBC News reported, a case report published Wednesday in JAMA Dermatology revealed that a man in his 30s from New York City contracted a nasty skin infection after weeks of travel. During his time away from home, he engaged in sexual intercourse with multiple men during trips to England, Greece, and California.
When he got back, he developed a rash on his genitals, buttocks, and limbs.
Genetic testing on skin lesions identified the culprit as a fungal infection known as Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), a sexually transmitted form of ringworm. According to the CDC, TMVII VII is a difficult-to-treat fungus that causes skin disease in animals and humans and is acquired through sexual contact.
According to The Gateway Pundit, the report’s lead author, Dr. Jeff Caplan, wrote the rash may look more like an eczema flare than a ringworm infection, which usually forms in a circular pattern on the skin. This can potentially delay diagnosis in certain individuals.
Senior author Dr. John Zampella also noted that patients are often hesitant to discuss genital problems, raising the possibility of more TMVII infections than reported.
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