What is Black Fungus?
Black Fungus, medically termed as Mucormycosis, is a diseasecaused by fungus. These fungi belong to a group scientifically calledmucormycetes.
The disease is serious, and doctors in attempts to preventthe spread of the infection may even be forced to remove the eye or lower jawof the patient.
There are five types of Black Fungus disease. The one thathas been wreaking havoc in India is medically called rhinocerebral (sinus andbrain) mucormycosis.
Rhinocerebral mucormycosis starts in the sinuses and canspread to the brain. This form of the disease is most prevalent in those whohave uncontrolled diabetes and those with a kidney transplant.
Is Black Fungus a new disease?
No, Black Fungus is not a new illness, it is just that thefactors right now are especially conducive to the spread of this disease.
Where is Black Fungus commonly found?
The fungi which cause Black Fungus are present everywhere inthe environment. However, the fungi is prolific in decaying organic matter suchas leaves, compost piles, or rotten wood. Further, the fungi is more dense insoil and in air.
How does one become infected with Black Fungus?
Coming in physical contact with the fungus starts the vectorfor catching the disease. One way is breathing in the spores of the fungi; anotheris the fungi entering the body via a cut, scrape, burn, or other type oftrauma.
However, this is one half of the story. For the fungi tomake a person sick, that person must be in a weak state of health.
What are the symptoms of Black Fungus?
The type of Black Fungus that is attacking COVID patients inIndia is rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis. Its symptoms include:
· One-sided facial swelling
· Headache
· Nasal or sinus congestion
· Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside ofmouth that quickly become more severe.
· Fever
For pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis, the symptoms include:
· Fever
· Cough
· Chest pain
· Shortness of breath
Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis can look like blisters orulcers, and the infected area may turn black. Other symptoms include pain,warmth, excessive redness, or swelling around a wound.
The symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:
· Abdominal pain
· Nausea and vomiting
· Gastrointestinal bleeding
Finally, Patients with disseminated infection in the brain candevelop mental status changes or coma.
Can I die from Black Fungus?
Asper a 2005 report54% of the patients of Black Fungus die. Even if death could be averted, thepotential for disfigurement to prevent the disease is horrendous.
Assurvivors of war testify, having a disfigured face is a fate worse than death.
Who are at risk of Black Fungus?
As alluded to in the previous point, those individuals whofor any reasons are weak i.e. their body’s ability to fight germs and sicknessis impaired are at risk of contracting Black Fungus.
Some people are born with a weak immune system, while othershave factors in their life which makes their immunity weak.
A group of people who are at risk are those who have hadorgan transplant. In this case, to prevent the body from rejecting the newlyintroduced body organ, the immunity of the person is artificially depressedusing these anti-rejection medicines.
Another group of people is those who are living with HIV /AIDS, because the infections like the Black Fungus will affect the moment theyget chance.
Cancer patients too are at risk since their recoveryinvolves chemotherapy and radiation to destroy cancer cells, which inevitablyweakens their immune system also.
Those who are hospitalised or visiting hospitals for OPD areat a greater risk if they already have a weak immune system.
Those who have had stem cell transplant are at risk becausethe transplants destroy and rebuild immune system and thus the chances ofinfection are great while your body is adjusting to the changes.
Finally, those who are specifically taking medicines thatinhibit immunity are naturally at risk of catching infections like BlackFungus.
Is it possible for me to protect myself completely fromBlack Fungus?
No, as mentioned earlier the fungi that cause Black Fungusare everywhere, but more at some places than others.
So, if you fall into any of the at-risk categories, inaddition to doing all that you can to boost your immunity, stay away fromplaces where the concentration of these fungi is high.
So, avoid gardening, farming, old buildings, rottingvegetation, compost pits, and other such locations.
Why so many cases of Black Fungus in India?
The clubbing of Black Fungus with COVID is incidental.Indian doctors claim that to handle COVID, certain medicines are indispensiblewhich lower the immunity of the patient.
Now, diabetes is especially prevalent in the country andthis coupled with the high infection rates of COVID are leading to a scaryproposition of Black Fungus turning into an epidemic of proportions same asCOVID.
What is Indian Government doing to handle Black Fungus?
The government recently notified all states and unionterritories that Black Fungus is now categorised an epidemic and thus all casesof the disease are to be reported to higher authorities so that the governmentcan take relevant actions.
Can I get Black Fungus without COVID?
Yes, as detailed above Black Fungus has nothing to do withCOVID. A weak immune system enables the Black Fungus causing fungi to becomeactive and cause Black Fungus disease.
Can COVID vaccinated people get Black Fungus?
Yes, since the function of any vaccine, including all the vaccinesfor COVID, is to teach the body how to get army ready to fight when afull-fledged disease attacks.
Thus, the body being prepared for COVID has no bearing tofighting the fungi that cause Black Fungus.
What should I do to increase my chances of notcontracting Black Fungus?
Increase the level of your health.
To do so, we need to get back to basics in our foodconsumption. Research claims that homo sapiens i.e. we are frugivores. Ourdigestive system is not specialised for eating meat and researchof fossil teeth finds a diet primarily of fruits.
Moving to aplant-based diet is a good way to increase health and raise the level ofyour immunity.