At least two patients in New York have been diagnosed with a new skin infection that appears not to have occurred in the United States before, federal health officials said, and additional cases are being investigated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a "drug-resistant" infection responsible for severe cases of ringworm in two women. Ringworm, also known as ringworm, causes a red, itchy rash over large areas of the body.
The New York patients suffered injuries to their neck, abdomen, buttocks and thighs, according to a CDC report released last week.
His ringworm strain was tested and found to be Trichophyton indotineae , a strain that scientists say has reached "epidemic proportions" in South Asia. Periodic cases have been noted in other parts of the world, including Europe and Canada, but the two cases in New York will be the first to be detected in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned about this particular strain because the skin infection does not respond to standard treatments prescribed by dermatologists.
The agency first learned of the virus in late February when a dermatologist in the city reported two patients, two women ages 28 and 47. In the summer of 2021, the youngest patient, who was pregnant at the time, developed symptoms. You haven't taken any recent foreign trips, which the CDC says could indicate local transmission.
A 28-year-old man was initially given antifungal treatment that did not improve the rash, but subsequent treatment with itraconazole for four weeks eventually helped.
Almost a year later, the CDC reported that a second woman developed a common rash while traveling in Bangladesh. He tried topical creams but made three "ER" visits for further treatment after returning to the United States. A second topical treatment and two medication regimens for four weeks eventually resulted in an 80 percent improvement in the 47-year-old.
According to the report, the woman lives with her son and husband, who said they had similar symptoms. The CDC said their cases are pending.
Dr. Avrum Kaplan, who treated one of the patients, told NBC News that yeast infections are "not a prevalent problem" in the country.
Ringworm is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and can occur on most skin sites. Although it usually occurs in children, anyone can get it.
If you think you have this type of ringworm, see your doctor or dermatologist to get the right treatment.