Dermatologists are sounding the alarm over two emerging types of fungi that can cause nasty bouts of ringworm.
Ringworm, despite the name, has nothing to do with parasitic worms.
Its instead a reference to the circular rashes often resulting from certain fungal infections of the skin.
A mild ringworm infection.Photo: Rodrigo Bellizzi (Shutterstock)
There are about 40 different species of fungi that can cause ringworm.
These infections are typically mild (if very itchy) and treatable with antifungals.
These cases all involved men, with 12 reporting that they regularly had sex with men.
Before-and-after images of a patient with T. indotineae infection following successful treatment, from the team’s most recent paper this May.Image: Caplan et al/JAMA Dermatology
And sure enough, it didnt take long for them to find a case on their radar.
Amazingly, this is the second emerging fungi that Caplan has crossed paths with as of late.
This past May, Caplan and otherswrote a paperabout these and other cases discovered recently in New York City.
T. indotineae, which likely first emerged in India, is worrying for several reasons.
Secondly, topical over-the-counter antifungal creams typically dont work on it.
If that isnt bad enough, the fungi also seems capable of beingsexually transmitted.
At least for the time being, these emerging fungi arent an urgent public health concern within the U.S.
Importantly, the team hasnt found evidence that TMVII or T. indotineae have become endemic in the area.
But we do need more research to better understand these new and other fungal threats, Caplan said.
This lack of information can then drag out a patients treatment course.
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