What is Mucormycosis or Black Fungus? Let's know more about it !

Mucormycosis or black Fungus is an aggressive and invasive fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. It affects the ear, nose, throat, and mouth. This disease does not pass from one person to another, but if anyone is infected, it can cause many problems internally and become more serious if it's not detected early. The name Black Fungus is referred to the black color that is characteristic of the disease.

How does one catch black fungus?

Firstly, the fungal spore that is in the air gives people this infection. People can get this Fungus through the skin when one has a cut, burn, or other skin problems. When one comes in touch with the Fungus, it can stick to a body part, and after some time, it goes through the nose, sinus, or lungs.

If the Fungus goes in through a cut or a burn, it will just show local infections. But if it enters through the nose or sinus, it will affect the eyes and then the brain, leading to the worst situation. Doctors are not sure but think that the root cause of the black Fungus is the medicine given to at-home Covid patients without bringing their blood sugar levels under control. Some doctors say the reason as unclean, unhygienic post-Covid living conditions of patients. In addition, this Fungus is seen in people who used cheap steroids as they reduce the immune response causing secondary infections like black Fungus to grow. Doctors also say that use of tap water in the flow meters used in the oxygen cylinders are also the reason for the fungal infections.

What are the symptoms of mucormycosis?

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), symptoms of mucormycosis is the early signs of nasal blockage on one side of the face, headache on one side, swelling or numbness or sinus pain, toothache, and loosening of teeth.

Many top hospitals across India had reports from their patients saying that most of them had blurred vision, some had blackening of tissue or discoloration on the nose and cheeks, some had black lesions inside the mouth or discharge from the nose.

What kind of people are more at risk?

According to doctors, people who have diabetes are more prone to this fungal infection. Even those who are immuno-suppressed and are cured recently of the Covid virus. Patients affected by Covid and are diabetic need more care and the best way is to keep a regular check on diabetes as a preventive measure.

This fungal infection is seen in people who are recovering or had recovered from Covid. Therefore, one must take extra care for all the affected people by maintaining better hygiene and eating healthy food, especially those with diabetes have to watch their food intake. If this Fungus is not treated, it will lead to lethal bloodstream infection.

How are black fungus cases treated?

Once it enters a person, the Fungus does not remain silent; it starts to spread through the eyes, nose and reach the brain. At this point, it is very dangerous and deadly to treat it and requires multi-discipline expertise to treat. If a person cannot detect this disease for a long time, it will become to late to save them as this Fungus starts to affect other parts of the body. Therefore, we require a well-combined team of microbiologists, internal medicine specialists, intensivist neurologists, ENT specialists, ophthalmologists, dentists, surgeons, etc.

All the affected tissues have to be removed by surgery to save the person. Some of them end up losing their eyes or upper jaw. Patients need to undergo this intravenous anti-fungal procedure for about 4 to 6 weeks.

How risky is this condition?

The risk is very high when a person comes in contact with the fungal infection. If the patient is not treated, then the mortality rate is 80%; if they are treated, it will be 40-50%. However, if the infection is detected in the sinus stage, then full recovery is possible for the patient.

We have medicines for treating this Fungus, but the patient also has to face strong side effects such as kidney issues, neurological dysfunction, and even a heart stroke.

Drugs being used in the treatment.

To treat this Fungus, doctors are using Liposomal Amphotericin B. To treat a single patient, they need as many as 20 vials, and the cost of each vial is between Rs. 5,000 to Rs.6000. This medicine is not easily available as the government controls the supply, so, as an alternative, Posaconazole medicine is used as a second-line drug for treatment.

Never try to treat the black Fungus on your own; one must be treated under medical supervision. Also, people are not supposed to use more steroids as this Fungus affects them easily.

So be careful about yourself while going out, wear a mask, face shield, and gloves before stepping out of the house and go out only if necessary. Do not use more steroids and consult a doctor first before taking self-medication. Exercise daily, drink warm water and put vapor three times a day. Visit our Vizag Volunteers website for more information on the COVID virus. We are here to provide help for plasma, blood donors, helpline, etc. To reach us, log in to our website, fill in your details, and request for our volunteers to reach you.