The CDC has reported the first cases of antifungal-resistant ringworm in the United States, which were discovered in New York City.
Over the past decade, a strain of ringworm that is resistant to treatment has emerged in South Asia. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection that commonly affects the skin, hair, or nails and is typically treated with antifungal medications.
Two Patients Were Diagnosed with Treatment-resistant Ringworm
The CDC reports that two women with no known link were diagnosed with an uncommon type of ringworm.
Patient A, a 28-year-old lady, got a rash in the summer of 2021 and was diagnosed with tinea after giving birth in January 2022.
Her symptoms were not relieved by oral medication, but a second session of itraconazole cleaned up her rash after four weeks. She is still being watched for recurrences.
Patient B, the second woman identified in the CDC report, developed a widespread rash while traveling in Bangladesh in the summer of 2022.
Despite being treated with topical creams, her symptoms persisted, and several family members also developed similar rashes.
After returning to the US, she received a topical treatment at an urgent care center, but there was no improvement.
Two four-week courses of oral medications were given, with the second leading to an 80% improvement.
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A Fungi Not Worms
Ringworm is caused by 40 pieces of fungi, not worms. The recent cases were caused by Trichophyton indotineae, a newly discovered fungus.
Although first concentrated in South Asia, cases have been discovered in European countries as well. The cases found in New York City are the first in the United States.
The rash caused by ringworm can take on various forms, but it often presents as a ring-shaped rash on the skin that can be very itchy and uncomfortable.
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