Potentially Deadly Black Fungus Infections Rising in India's COVID-19 Patients. As the coronavirus depletes medical supplies and drowns the country's healthcare system, another microorganism is making its move to infect patients.
Reports of the "Black Fungus" infecting COVID patients are now alarming. The symptoms normally showing up in the First 24 to 48 hours after Covid.
"According to the US CDC, the black fungus or mucormycetes are a gaggle of molds which can cause mucormycosis. It is a rare but serious mycosis which will occur in people with preexisting health conditions.
Thus, healthy people are unlikely to catch this infection unless something weakens their immune systems. And right now, the coronavirus seems to be giving the opportunity this fungus needs.
By seasons, this microbe is more common in summer and fall. Basically, people encounter its spores every day and those with healthy immune systems can easily fight it.
So, how did this black mold get an edge in India's COVID-affected areas ?
COVID-19 itself created the right setting for the fungus. Firstly, patients are more vulnerable to secondary infections because of the coronavirus. Since COVID is a new disease, most patients take time to develop immunity against it
Secondly, many COVID patients develop severe inflammation induced by the virus.
Doctors have to reduce inflammation or patients are at risk of complications. Steroids can help by lowering the performance of the immune system to stop the overdrive.
However, that also results in a decreased immune response, giving opportunistic pathogens like the black mold a chance. And finally, some patients have pre-existing conditions that further complicate things.
For instance, diabetes lowers the performance of the immune system while COVID-19 worsens it and If you administer steroids, the immune system may be nearly diminished to the point that it will be totally unable to combat the virus or the fungus.
Summing Up :-
Causes:
Mucormycosis is believed to be caused by mucormycetes fungi are which present in our environment especially soil, decaying organic matter, damp and moist rooms, wet surfaces.
Mucormycosis affects individuals with low immunity (immunocompromised patients) like elderly people, cancer patients, diabetic patients.
The incidence of Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) is increasing in COVID patients due to the utilization of steroids, immunomodulatory drugs like Tocilizumab, and Humidified Oxygen.
Symptoms of Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) are:-
1. Pain, numbness, swelling in one side of the face
2. Pain and swelling in eyes
3. Headache and fever
4. Nasal blockage
5. Nasal discharge
6. Black eschar around the nose
Preventive tips to avoid Black Fungus (Mucormycosis) infection are:
1. blood glucose levels should be on top of things especially of diabetic patients
2. Use clean, sterile water in an Oxygen humidifier
3. Avoid soil, dust
4. Clean the room of the patient
5. Judicious use of steroids
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