Black Fungus, Country has yet to recover from COVID 19’s second wave. The new fungal infection, black fungus or mucormycosis, is being noticed in all COVID 19 survivors.
It has been reported in Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.
This disease has claimed the lives of 1500 people in Maharashtra, with 90 of them dying.
The Centre has asked the states to declare the Black Fungus an epidemic under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 as the number of affected cases grows.
Furthermore, all government and private hospitals have been asked to report all suspected and confirmed cases of Black Fungus. But where does this Black Fungus come from, and how does it affect…?
Source of black fungus: The Ministry of Health has confirmed that this infection is being detected among COVID 19 patients who are recovering or have recovered.
They are receiving oxygen therapy in the ICU, where a humidifier is used, making them susceptible to fungal infections due to the moisture exposure.
Furthermore, a weakened immune system as a result of steroid use, diabetes, and other factors keep the patient waiting.
keep the patients at a higher risk of contracting the infection What impact does it have on us?
Mucormycetes, a group of microorganisms that live in the environment, primarily in soil, dead leaves, piles, and compost, cause the disease.
It begins as a skin infection in the air pockets of the forehead, nose, cheekbones, eyebrows, and teeth, then progresses to the lungs, eyes, and even the brain.
Symptoms: Some symptoms of black fungus include nose discoloration, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, chest pain, bloody coughing, redness in the eyes, fever with cough and headache, and vomiting.
Treatment : Amphotericin-B injection, an antifungal medicine, is the primary reequipment for treating this fungus.
Because this infection affects multiple parts of our body at the same time, patients must be closely monitored by eye surgeons, ENT specialists, general and neurosurgeons, and dental maxillofacial surgeons.
Dos and Don’ts for Black Fungus:
Do’s
- Maintain a healthy level of hyperglycemia.
- After you’ve recovered from COVID 19, keep an eye on your blood glucose levels.
- During oxygen therapy, use only clean, sterile water in humidifiers. Only use steroid and antifungal medications as directed by your doctor.
Don’ts
- If you have Black Fungus symptoms, don’t ignore them.
- Take the case of a blocked nose seriously, especially after recovering from COVID 19.
- Do not waste any time hoping to recover quickly without treatment.
- When a critical investigation, such as microscopy, is required, do not hesitate.
