What is Mucormycosis or black fungus?
Mucormycosis or black fungus is a type of fungal infection. It’s relatively rare, but also very serious.
According to an advisory from the “Indian Council of Medical Research”, the recovered or recovering Covid-19 patients going through these following conditions could be at high-risk of developing this fungus:
• Uncontrollable Diabetes
• Weakened immune system due to the use of steroids
• Post organ transplant/ cancer
• Voriconazole therapy (used to treat severe fungal infection)
• Protracted hospital stay.
In recent times, this infection is on the verge of spreading rapidly among the patients who have either recovered from covid or are recovering. Moreover, it’s high time for the diabetic patients or the people with low immunity to be on guard against this.
It’s important to get treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, mucormycosis can be fatal.
What are the various Symptoms of Mucormycosis?
Starting as a skin infection in air pockets behind forehead, nose, or in between eyes and teeth, this disease starts spreading to eyes, lungs or even to the brain. Furthermore, it leads to blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, Chest pain, Breathing difficulties and also coughing of blood.
Although, Indian Council of Medical Research has made it clear that not all cases of nose blockage should be mistaken with Mucormycosis or black fungus, particularly during/after treatment of Covid-19 patients. One must seek medical help for detecting fungus as early as possible.
How is it related to Covid-19?
A set of microorganisms known as “mucormycetes” is responsible for causing this disease. These are present naturally in our environment, seen commonly in soil and decaying organic matter like leaves, compost and piles.
Our body is immunized to fight such deadly fungus but due to the steroids and intake of certain medicines used in the treatment of covid-19 , our immunity is suppressed for the time being resulting in a high-risk of getting infected with mucormycosis or black fungus.
The disease is uncommon in those not having diabetes but can be fatal if not treated promptly. Chances of recovery depend upon early diagnosis and treatment.
How it’s treated?
The treatment of Mucormycosis can take about four to six weeks.
The treatment starts from the process of identifying the disease. It’s better to have diagnosed it at an early stage as this fungus continues to get more fatal with each passing moment. Mucormycosis begins with skin infection in air pockets behind forehead, nose, or in between eyes and teeth. Furthermore, results in blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, Chest pain, Breathing difficulties and also coughing of blood.
To stop the spreading of black fungus and to end it, the patient might have to proceed for surgery as soon as possible. During surgery, the organs which are infected with fungus are to be removed. This may result in the loss of upper jaw or eyes.
Recently, doctors of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) reported to have surgically removed a cricket ball-sized black fungus or Mucormycosis from the brain of a 60 year old on Friday.
A team led by Dr Brajesh Kumar operated on the patient with such precision that his eyes were not affected.
Be on guard
Reported around 31000 cases in last three weeks, the black fungus is rising on a all-time high rate. Nearly 2100 deaths have been reported so far from this fungus. It’s better to take preventive measures at this time.
It is advised that after recovering from COVID-19, one should closely monitor and should not miss any warning signs and symptoms mentioned above, as the fungal infection is found to emerge even weeks or months after recovery. One should make judicial use of steroids as per doctor’s advice to avoid risk of infection. Early detection of the disease can ease the treatment of the fungal infection.
Eduindex News 