Since the past few days, several cases of Black fungus infections have been reported from Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Initially, Black fungus infection outbreak was reported in 2020 causing many patients to lose their eyesight.
Critical in nature, this rare fungus infection is generated by a group of molds known as mucormycetes, which is present naturally in the environment.
Who can get infected with black fungus?
Coronavirus can trigger Mucormycisis fungal infection. Black fungus or mucormycosis has been a cause of death of patients in transplants, ICUs and immunodeficient patients for a long time.
A senior ENT surgeon, Dr Manish Munjal, at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital stated, "We are seeing a rise again in this dangerous fungal infection triggered by COVID-19. In the last two days, we have admitted six cases of mucormycisis. Last year, this deadly infection caused high mortality with many patients suffering from the loss of eyesight and the removal of the nose and the jaw bone."
Dr Ajay Swaroop, the chairman of the ENT department at the hospital, said the use of steroids in treating COVID linked with the fact that many covid-19 patients have diabetes could be one of the reasons for this increase in the number of black fungus cases again.
He explains, “Use of steroids in the treatment of coronavirus infection and the fact that many Covid-19 patients have diabetes as co-morbidity could be one of the reasons for this rise in black fungus cases again. Covid-19 infected patients with weak immunity are more prone to this deadly infection.”
Agreeing with Dr Swaroop’s explanation, Dr Munjal said COVID patients with weak immunity are more prone to this deadly infection.
What is the treatment for mucormycosis?
Dr Munjal further adds, “overall mortality rate is around 50 per cent", but early identification and treatment can lead to a better outcome. Early clinical suspicion on symptoms such as nose obstruction, swelling in the eyes or cheeks and black crusts in the nose should immediately prompt a biopsy and start of antifungal therapy as early as possible.”
A Mumbai-based bio-pharmaceutical firm, Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited, became the first firm in India to receive approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to use anti-fungal medication this year.
Liposomal Amphotericin B or LAmB can be used as a medical treatment in patients suffering from mucormycosis.
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Is Black Fungus infection deadly?
According to a media report conducted in Ahmedabad last year, the disease if left untreated for too long could result fatal for patients. In Ahmedabad, mucormycosis was reported in five patients who were all either suffering from Covid or had recovered from it two of whom expired because of the virus while two among the survivors lost their eyesight. Whereas, two out of the 4 similar cases from Bengaluru resulted in death.