title: Tinea genitalis: a new entity of sexually transmitted infection? Case series and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigation on recent cases of tinea genitalis after travelling to South East Asia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with tinea in the genital region, which emerged after sex in South East Asia, underwent further assessment including microscopy, cultures and DNA analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The case series includes seven patients. In six patients, Trichophyton interdigitale (former Trichophyton mentagrophytes) was detected. Three patients suffered from a severe inflammatory reaction of the soft tissue and two of them needed hospitalisation due to severe pain. In four patients, cicatrising healing was noticed. Five patients were declared incapacitated for work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual activity should be considered as a potentially important and previously underappreciated means of transmission of T. interdigitale. To avoid irreversible scarring alopecia, prompt initiation of antifungal treatment is essential and adequate isolation and identification of the pathogen is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology, Triemli Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Luchsinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philipp Peter
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Bosshard
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Romano Silvio
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology, Triemli Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology, Triemli Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014005:Tinea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014195:Travel; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY (CLINICAL); FUNGAL INFECTIONS; GENITAL ULCERS; MYCOLOGY