Sexually active people should be aware of another infection that could hamper their sex life.
While STDs tend to be caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites, a new pathogen has entered the arena.
What is this new infection? Let’s find out!
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What is ringworm?
Doctors in New York have confirmed a new case of sexually transmitted ringworm. Ringworm, contrary to what its name might imply, is not a worm, but a form of fungus. The fungus survives in the dead tissues of the skin, hair, nails or scalp.
During a normal ringworm infection, the main symptom is a rash. It may appear red or darker than the surrounding skin, depending on your skin color. The rash is usually ring-shaped, with a lighter periphery than a lighter center. The rash may be scaly, itchy and dry.
Most ringworm infections are spread by:
- Touching an infected person or animal
- Touching contaminated items such as clothing, surfaces and sheets
- Touching contaminated soil (less common)
However, the ringworm we are talking about today is not your average infection…
How is ringworm sexually transmitted?
The ring was mentioned in JAMA Dermatology not your average infection. The strain of ringworm is called Trichophyton mentagrophytes ITS genotype VII (TMVII).
Health authorities have been paying attention to TMVII for some time after reports of its spread France and Southeast Asia in 2023.
The fungus causes symptoms similar to itching, eczema or psoriasis, creating a red and scaly rash. Some patients with TMVII also develop painful inflamed sores that can become “overinfected”, with pockets of pus that can lead to scarring, although this seems to be quite rare among people who get it.
The fungus appears to be spread through sexual contact, through prolonged physical contact with another person through sex, or through the sharing of sex toys. According to published reports, infection is more common among men who have sex with men. The fungus can also spread between people in other ways, such as through sharing towels and clothing.
It’s also unclear whether barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, help. Because the fungus is spread through prolonged contact, a condom should cover the affected area completely, which may not be possible in all cases, especially if the affected area is not isolated to the head and shaft of the penis.
While most ringworm infections respond well to topical antifungals, TMVII seems a little different. TMVII infections can take several weeks to clear up when using over-the-counter antifungal treatments. According to the initial report, one patient’s infection took four weeks to completely clear from his body. Other patients required hospitalization.
Whether this fungus is particularly resistant to treatment or whether the infection simply got worse because it took so long for doctors to recognize it.
TMVII’s appearance follows another interesting case reported by the CDC in March 2024, where doctors recorded a case of sexually transmitted Trichophyton indotineaeanother type of contagious fungus, from a woman in Pennsylvania who contracted the infection during intercourse in Southeast Asia. The fungal infection caused genital lesions that were at first mistaken for a simple case of contact dermatitis.
Are there many new infections?
Currently, there is only one confirmed case of TMVII in the US and about a dozen in France. No infections have been recorded in the UK at the time of writing.
What other STDs can look like ringworm?
Some STDs can cause a rash somewhere on the body. These include:
- Scabies: Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. These mites lay eggs, leading to an itchy rash characterized by red bumps and blisters.
- Perennial lice: Pubic lice, commonly known as crabs, are tiny insects that infest the thick hair of the genital area. These parasites feed on blood, causing severe itching and irritation. Itching is often accompanied by small blue spots and visible lice or eggs attached to the hair. Scratching can lead to secondary infections and further skin irritation.
- HIV: HIV may cause a rash as part of the body’s immune response to the virus. This rash often appears within the first two months after infection and is typically reddened, discolored, and reddish in fair-skinned people or dark purple in darker-skinned people. The rash may be mildly itchy. It can appear on different parts of the body, including the face, chest and hands. (NOTE: No rash is specific to HIV.)
- Herpes: The rash associated with Herpes it often starts as small, red bumps that quickly develop into fluid-filled blisters. These blisters can be painful and may break open, forming ulcers that eventually crust over and heal.
- Molluscum contagiosum: Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that causes small, raised, pearl-like bumps on the skin. These bumps, which can be white, pink, or the same color as your skin, often have a central indentation. They can appear anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face, neck, arms, legs, and genital area. The lumps are usually painless, but can become itchy, red and swollen.
Should I be worried?
For now, UK residents do not need to worry about this infection. From what we know about TMVII, it is curable and currently isolated to a few countries.
However, if you wish to protect your health, you may want to avoid prolonged intercourse and think twice about sharing towels and clothes and engaging in new sexual relationships before getting tested.
Final thoughts
If you’re sexually active and want to maintain your sexual health, it’s important to incorporate regular STD testing into your life. Knowing your sexual health status can help you take action if you become infected.
Protect your sexual health. Make an appointment at a sexual health clinic near you.
