Along with COVID-19 there is new threat arising with Covid-19 patient, "Mucormycosis, also know as Black Fungus". It is seen in in patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
Also read- COVID19 महामारी के दौरान स्वस्थ रहने के लिए दैनिक जीवन शैली कैसी होनी चाहिए।
What is Black fungus?
Black fungus is a rare and serious infection which is caused by Mucormycetes (Group of Molds). It mainly affects the people, having a low immunity or who have a health problem
Addressing a press conference on Friday Niti Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said "The fungal infection called mucormycosis is being found in patients of COVID-19 disease. It is caused by a fungus named mucor, which is found on wet surfaces. It, to a large extent, is happening to people who have diabetes. It is very uncommon in those who are not diabetic. There is no big outbreak and we are monitoring it".
Symptoms of Black Fungus according to CDC
Symptoms depend on where in the body the fungus is growing
Symptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:
- One-sided facial swelling
- Headache
- Nasal or sinus congestion
- Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe
- Fever
Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis can look like blisters or ulcers, and the infected area may turn black. Other symptoms include pain, warmth, excessive redness, or swelling around a wound.
Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Who get Infected from Black Fungus
Certain groups of people are more likely to get mucormycosis, including people with:
- Diabetes, especially with diabetic ketoacidosis
- Cancer
- Organ transplant
- Stem cell transplant
- Neutropenia (low number of white blood cells)
- Long-term corticosteroid use
- Injection drug use
- Too much iron in the body (iron overload or hemochromatosis)
- Skin injury due to surgery, burns, or wounds
- Prematurity and low birthweight (for neonatal gastrointestinal mucormycosis)
How does someone get mucormycosis?
People get mucormycosis through contact with fungal spores in the environment. For example, the lung or sinus forms of the infection can occur after someone inhales the spores from the air. A skin infection can occur after the fungus enters the skin through a scrape, burn, or other type of skin injury.
Is mucormycosis contagious?
No. Mucormycosis can’t spread between people or between people and animals.
How is mucormycosis treated?
Mucormycosis is a serious infection and needs to be treated with prescription antifungal medicine, usually amphotericin B, posaconazole, or isavuconazole. These medicines are given through a vein (amphotericin B, posaconazole, isavuconazole) or by mouth (posaconazole, isavuconazole). Other medicines, including fluconazole, voriconazole, and echinocandins, do not work against fungi that cause mucormycosis. Often, mucormycosis requires surgery to cut away the infected tissue.
Deaths due to mucormycosis
Mucormycosis is frequently a life-threatening infection. A review of published mucormycosis cases found an overall all-cause mortality rate of 54%.The mortality rate varied depending on underlying patient condition, type of fungus, and body site affected (for example, the mortality rate was 46% among people with sinus infections, 76% for pulmonary infections, and 96% for disseminated mucormycosis).Cases of #mucormycosis, commonly known as #blackfungus, have been reported from #Gujarat among those who have recovered from #Covid19.https://t.co/U1H7Ynqzr8
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 7, 2021
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