This fungus causes painful, itchy, and aggressive red rashes in the groin, thighs, and buttocks. If no action is taken, it can spread to other parts of the body, including the face.
Many infected individuals may feel the urge to avoid public places and work, which can lead to their social isolation. Experts note that without tests, this condition can easily be confused with eczema or psoriasis.
In the past three years, the number of cases of infection with Indian trichophyton has increased by almost 500 percent.
“This fungus was hardly mentioned in Europe before. As a result, hundreds of people may become 'social outcasts,'” said Professor Darius Armstrong-James, a fungal specialist from Imperial College London.
Updated statistics show that in the last two years, the number of infection cases in the UK and Ireland has sharply increased: from 44 in 2022 to 258 as of March this year.
Known as T.indotineae, this fungus is a type of ringworm first identified in India in 2014. Since then, it has mutated and become resistant to traditional antifungal treatments.
Treating this fungus requires months of inpatient therapy using itraconazole—a drug that can have serious toxic side effects, affecting the liver and heart.
