DALLAS, TEXAS — A Dallas physician and TikToker known as Doctor Andi is warning about a new STD called Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII, known as TMvii, that is spreading across the United States and being widely misdiagnosed. Unlike typical STDs, TMvii is not a virus or bacteria but a form of ringworm, making it uniquely difficult to identify and treat. The warning video garnered over 440,000 views as the doctor described the infection as flying under the radar and spreading precisely because of that.
TMvii Is a Form of Ringworm — Not a Virus or Bacteria
The most alarming and unique aspect of TMvii is its nature. Doctor Andi explained that the infection is actually a fungal condition — a form of ringworm — rather than the viral or bacterial infections typically associated with STDs. This distinction makes it particularly problematic because people and even healthcare providers are not looking for a fungal infection when assessing STD symptoms.
TMvii shows up as a painful, itchy, and inflamed rash that can appear on the genitals, inner thighs, buttocks, face, and any body part involved in sexual contact. The Cleveland Clinic notes the rashes are typically ring-shaped with raised or darkened edges, often red, pink, or purple and itchy, painful, scaly, or blistered.
People Being Misdiagnosed and Prescribed Ineffective Treatments
The biggest current problem with TMvii according to Doctor Andi was widespread misdiagnosis. People were being told they had eczema, razor burn, or general skin irritation and prescribed over-the-counter antifungal creams that did not work on this specific type of fungus. As a result, infected individuals were unknowingly continuing to spread the infection while believing they had a non-contagious skin condition.
Proper diagnosis required a skin sample and biopsy rather than a visual examination alone, making routine identification significantly more difficult than standard STD testing. Doctor Andi urged anyone with a rash in an intimate area to seek proper screening at a primary care, urgent care, or dermatology clinic.
TMvii Can Affect Anyone Sexually Active — First Discovered in Europe in 2023
While TMvii was initially being reported predominantly in gay men, Doctor Andi and the Duke Global Health Institute confirmed it could impact anyone who was sexually active. Shared items like towels and bedding also posed a smaller transmission risk.
The fungus was first identified in Europe in 2023 and has no routine screening process currently in place, meaning many cases were going completely undetected across the United States. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates and detailed coverage.
Leave a Reply