Health
Rare, sexually transmitted ringworm reported in NYC
Health officials are warning about a new case of ringworm likely spread through sex that has been reported in New York City, the first such case in the U.S.
The infection, a rare fungus called trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), was detected in a man in his 30s who reported having sex with multiple men during a trip to England, Greece and California, according to a study published Wednesday at JAMA Dermatology by doctors at NYU Langone Health in New York City.
When the man returned from his trip, he developed a red, itchy rash on his penis, legs, and across his groin and buttocks. The rash looks similar to eczema, a common condition that causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin, as opposed to the typical ringworm fungal skin infection that forms in circles.
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A person with eczema which looks similar to trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII). (BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)
Tests revealed he had the fungus and doctors prescribed him standard antifungal oral medications – but it took his body four and a half months to clear it.
The man took fluconazole for four weeks without improvement before moving on to terbinafine for six weeks and then itraconazole for eight weeks.
Doctors say he did not have any other infections that could have made the problem worse.
Dr. Avrom Caplan, an assistant professor of dermatology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and author of the new report, told NBC that there is no need for the public to be alarmed.
“There’s no evidence that this is widespread, or that this is something that people really need to be worried about,” Caplan told the outlet. “But if people are having itchy eruptions in areas like the groin, and it’s not getting better, see a doctor.”
John Zampella, who also co-authored the study, called on physicians to help identify the fungus.
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The co-author of the study called on physicians to help identify the fungus. (iStock )
“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,” Zampella said in the statement.
The man’s case is the first recorded in the U.S. and comes as doctors in France reported 13 such cases last year, according to a statement announcing the study. Twelve of those patients were men who had sex with men. The man said he had sex with multiple male partners during his travels, none of whom reported similar skin issues.
Caplan said the infection was most likely transmitted through sexual contact but he couldn’t rule out the possibility that he picked the fungus up at a sauna he had visited two months prior to his symptoms erupting, NBC reports.
According to the study, male genital fungi have been increasing in India, consistent with the emergence of a slightly different form of ringworm called trichophyton indotineae.
Climate, hygiene and bathing practices likely contribute to the spread of that fungus as well as sexual contact.
Caplan previously identified the first two cases of trichophyton indotineae and since then his team at NYU Langone Health has identified a further nine cases of the ringworm in both men and women in New York City.
The study was conducted by doctors at NYU Langone Health in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)
The infection causes similar itchy and contagious rashes as TMVII and poses a greater challenge for dermatologists since it often resists terbinafine treatment, Caplan said.
“These findings offer new insight into how some of the fungal skin infections spreading from South Asia can evade our go-to therapies,” Caplan said. “Beyond learning to recognize their misleading signs, physicians will need to ensure their treatment addresses each patient’s quality-of-life needs.”
Caplan said that he plans to work with leading fungi experts around the U.S. and internationally over the next few months to expand research efforts and track emerging cases.
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Stat of the week
More than 59% of women may have high blood pressure by 2050, according to a new report from the American Heart Association.
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A new report by the American Heart Association (AHA) included some troubling predictions for the future of women’s health.
The forecast, published in the journal Circulation on Wednesday, projected increases in various comorbidities in American females by 2050.
More than 59% of women were predicted to have high blood pressure, up from less than 49% currently.
The review also projected that more than 25% of women will have diabetes, compared to about 15% today, and more than 61% will have obesity, compared to 44% currently.
As a result of these risk factors, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7%.
The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in women is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7% by 2050. (iStock)
Not all trends were negative, as unhealthy cholesterol prevalence is expected to drop to about 22% from more than 42% today, the report stated.
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Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a cardiologist and founder of Step One Foods in Minnesota, commented on these “jarring findings.”
“The fact that on our current trajectory, cardiometabolic disease is projected to explode in women within one generation should be a huge wake-up call,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Hypertension, diabetes, obesity — these are all major risk factors for heart disease, and we are already seeing what those risks are driving. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, eclipsing all other causes of death, including breast cancer.”
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and around the world. (iStock)
Klodas warned that heart disease starts early, progresses “stealthily,” and can present “out of the blue in devastating ways.”
The AHA published another study on Thursday revealing one million hospitalizations, showing that heart attack deaths are climbing among adults below the age of 55.
The more alarming finding, according to Klodas, is that young women were found more likely to die after their first heart attack than men of the same age.
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“This is all especially tragic since heart disease is almost entirely preventable,” she said. “The earlier you start, the better.”
Children can show early evidence of plaque deposition in their arteries, which can be reversed through lifestyle changes if “undertaken early enough and aggressively enough,” according to the expert.
Moving more is one part of protecting a healthy heart, according to experts. (iStock)
Klodas suggested that rising heart conditions are associated with traditional risk factors, like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
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Doctors are also seeing higher rates of preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, as well as gestational diabetes. Klodas noted that these are sex-specific risk factors that don’t typically contribute to complications until after menopause.
The best way to protect a healthy heart is to “do the basics,” Klodas recommended, including the following lifestyle habits.
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Klodas especially emphasized making improvements to diet, as the food people eat affects “every single risk factor that the AHA’s report highlights.”
“High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, excess weight – these are all conditions that are driven in part or in whole by food,” she said. “We eat multiple times every single day, which means what we eat has profound cumulative effects over time.”
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health.”
The doctor also recommends changing out a few snacks per day for healthier choices, which has been proven to “yield medication-level cholesterol reductions” in a month.
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“Keep up that small change and, over the course of a year, you could also lose 20 pounds and reduce your sodium intake enough to avoid blood pressure-lowering medications,” Klodas added.
“Women should not view the AHA report as inevitable. We have power over our health destinies. We just need to use it.”
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