Two women in New York diagnosed with drug-resistant ringworm infection

At least two women in New York have been diagnosed with a new, highly contagious fungal infection skin infection that has reached ‘epidemic proportions’ in South Asia.

These are the first known cases of drug-resistant ringworm, also known as tinea, in the US., which can cause large, itchy red rashes anywhere on the body.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials reported that the unnamed patients, ages 28 and 47, suffered lesions on their neck, abdomen, buttocks and thighs, and further cases are being reviewed.

Fungal infections are becoming more common in America, particularly drug-resistant strains, due to changing climates, experts suggest.

The 47-year-old woman (pictured) had the rash on her thighs and buttocks

A dermatologist first reported two women with the virus at the end of February.

The 28-year-old reported rashes appearing in the summer of 2021 and sought medical attention in December of the same year while in her third trimester of pregnancy.

The dermatologists found large, ring-like, scaly rashes on her neck, abdomen, pubic area and buttocks.

She was diagnosed with tinea and given antifungal treatment in January 2022 after her baby was born, which did not work.

A four-week course of the antifungal itraconazole eventually cleared the rash.

She had not been abroad recently, leading CDC officials to say it could have been transmitted locally. 

The second woman developed an extensive rash while traveling in Bangladesh.

Topical creams failed to help and upon her return to the US, she went to the emergency department on three separate occasions in the fall of 2022.

In December last year, she was seen by dermatologists who noted she had a widespread, scaly, ring-like rash on her thighs and buttocks.

Different topical treatments and two four-week medication courses improved the rash by 80 percent.

The 47-year-old lives with her husband and son, who are also experiencing similar symptoms, and the CDC said it is investigating their cases. 

Scientists tested the strain of ringworm, which came back as Trichophyton indotineae, which is currently ripping through India and other parts of South Asia.

The fungus Trichophyton rubrum causes ringworm. The strain recently found in the US is drug-resistant

This is probably due to medication overuse, like antifungals to treat them. 

There have been previous cases in Europe and Canada, but never before in America.

Health officials said they were ‘concerned’ because the infection has not responded to normal treatments prescribed by dermatologists.

Ringworm is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and can cause rashes all over the body. The infection is usually found in children but anyone can contract it.

It is not caused by a worm, but is a fungal infection.

Cases are usually treated with antifungal creams, but sometimes oral antifungal medication is needed as well.