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Doctors are now registering a surge of cases involving a mysterious infection - also known as the "black fungus" - among recovering and healed Covid-19 patients, even as a deadly second wave of Covid-19 ravages India.
What is mucormycosis and how does it affect you?
A very rare infection with mucormycosis. Mucor mould, which is commonly found in dirt, seeds, manure, and rotting fruits and vegetables, causes it. "It's everywhere, in soil and air, and also in good people's noses and mucus," says Dr. Nair.It can be life threatening for people who are diabetic or severely under-implemented, such as patients with cancer or those with HIV/AIDS, and affects their senus, brain and lungs.
How do you know if you're infected?
Fever, headache, coughing, shortness of breath, bloody vomits, and altered mental state are all warning signs, as are pain and redness around the eyes or nose. The advisory states that when mucormycetes are present, infection should be suspected:
* Sinusitis — blocking or congestion of your nose, release of your nose (blackish/bloody)
* Local cheek bone pain, facial unilateral pain, addictive or swelling
* Blue dye over nose and palate bridge
* Teeth loosen, jaw participation
* Blurred or painful dual vision
* Thrombosis, necrosis, injury to the skin
What’s the treatment?
Task Force experts have emphasised that hyperglycemia should be checked and that blood glucose levels monitored following discharge after Covid-19 and diabetics are also needed. Steroids should be wise to apply – it is important to have the right timing, dose and length.
Covid's management of mucormycosis patients includes a group work of microbiologists, internal specialists in medicine, intensivist neurologists, ENT specialists, eye doctors and dentists, surgeons (maxillo-facial/plastic), etc.
How frequently are cases discovered?
As part of the national Covid-19 task force, Dr. Soman was one of the expert members who drafted the advisory. Dr. Arunaloke Chakraborti, Head of the Department of Medical Microbiology at PGIMER in Chandigarh, Dr. Atul Patel, an infectious diseases specialist in Ahmedabad, and several others are also on the task force.
Patients that have been treated with steroids and other medications for Covid 19 to minimize inflammation are the most vulnerable to mucormycosis. Dr. Soman said that efforts are being made to collect data for major studies being conducted by the Fungal Infections Study Forum and the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society.
Preventative measures:
If you're going to a dusty construction site, wear a mask. When gardening, wear shoes, long pants, long-sleeved tops, and gloves. Maintain good personal hygiene, which includes a good scrub wash.
Medications:
Mucormycosis must be treated with antifungal medication prescribed by a doctor. It can necessitate surgery in some cases, and it may result in the loss of the upper jaw and, in some cases, an eye.
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