16/08/2024
Live Science reports that a sexually transmitted form of the common fungal infection ringworm, more formally known as tinea, has been reported in the US, whereas previously it was known only in Europe and Asia. The infection can be treated with a combination of anti-fungal creams and applications, but is more likely than regular ringworm to leave scarring on the skin. Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII) is the culprit. It is a variation on the more regular types of tinea, that can also cause illnesses such as athletes foot and jock itch. "Since patients are often reluctant to discuss genital problems, physicians need to directly ask about rashes around the groin and buttocks, especially for those who are sexually active, have recently traveled abroad, and report itchy areas elsewhere on the body," senior study author Dr. John Zampella, an associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, said in a statement.
