They warn about strains of ringworm that are highly contagious and resistant to conventional treatment.

Two studies published in a scientific journal Jama Dermatology warn that doctors and patients should be careful as they have found that New ‘highly contagious’ variants of ringworm corporis, capillaries and inguinals become “a potential threat to public health.”

In the first report, NYU Langone Health experts specializing in the distribution of contagious skin rashes document the first reported case in the United States of a sexually transmitted fungal infection that can take months to clear, even with treatment. In a second report, doctors at the same referral center teamed up with officials from the New York State Department of Health to describe the largest group of patients in the country with a similar strain of fungus that was also resistant to standard treatments.

Both studies show that fungi cause skin rashes such as ringworm, jock itch, and athlete’s foot. But in addition to their stability, new forms They may look like eczema and therefore cannot be treated. suitable for months. This is because ringworm has a different morphology than normal, unlike the typical regular and clear circles that can be seen in the image above these lines.

The first report, published on June 5, reported a remarkable case of a man in his 30s who developed a rash on his penis, buttocks and limbs after traveling to England, Greece and California. Tests showed that the infection was caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), which is diagnosed in Europe, especially among men who have sex with men.

This ringworm is also found in Spain.

This form of ringworm is sexually transmitted. increasingly diagnosed throughout Europe, with 13 cases reported in France in 2023, mostly among men who have sex with men. Notably, the man in the current study said he had sex with several male partners during his travels, none of whom reported similar skin problems.

Same year In Spain, dermatologists have warned of an increase in cases of ringworm scalp in adolescent males. The outbreak was recorded in hairdressing salons. and it was actually caused by the same fungus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII.

“Health care professionals should be aware that Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII This is the latest in a group of serious skin infections. it came to the United States,” says lead study author and dermatologist Avrom S. Kaplan, who is also an assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Grossman School of Medicine.

“Because patients They are often reluctant to talk about their problems with their genitals.“Clinicians should ask directly about rashes around the groin and buttocks, especially in those who are sexually active or have recently traveled abroad, and report itching in other parts of the body,” adds Dr. John G. Zampella, lead author of the study.

Zampella says that while TTMII infections are difficult to treat and can take months to resolve, for now appears to respond to antifungal treatment common ones, such as terbinafine. In contrast, Kaplan ensures that the new skin condition examined in his other new report represents big problem for dermatologists.

The Indian variant may be more dangerous and mutate more.

The results of the second study, published in May, focused on Trichophyton indotineae, widely distributed in India. and which is now known throughout the world. First confirmed in the United States last year, the infection causes an itchy, contagious rash similar to that of TMI but usually does not respond to treatment with terbinafine.

To better understand how the Indian variant may evade antifungal drugs, the researchers collected clinical and laboratory data. 11 men and women were treated for ringworm in hospitals from New York between May 2022 and May 2023. His ringworm was confirmed to be caused by T. indotineae. Seven patients received standard doses of terbinafine for a period ranging from 14 days (the usual duration for most forms of ringworm) to 42 days, but their rash did not improve.

By analyzing the DNA of fungal samples, the team discovered several genetic code variants (mutations) that prevent terbinafine from being taken up by fungal cells and breaking through their protective membranes. According to the authors of the study, These mutations may help explain why therapy has failed to treat the disease in some cases. infections.

The results also showed that when seven patients were treated with another antifungal drug called itraconazole, three recovered completely and two showed improvement. The problem with this therapy, according to Dr. Kaplan, is that while the drug is effective, it can interfere with the action of many medications and cause nausea, diarrhea and other side effects that make it difficult to use long-term.

“These results provide new insights into how some of the Fungal skin infections spreading from South Asia may evade our treatments a common occurrence,” says Dr. Kaplan. “In addition to learning to recognize misleading signs, clinicians will have to ensure that their treatment meets each patient’s quality of life needs.”

Dr. Kaplan adds that in the coming months he plans to work with leading fungal experts in the United States and around the world to expand research efforts and monitor emerging cases. Despite the warning the incidence of TMVII and T. indotineae in the United States remains low. Until now.