THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Once again there is a rise in cases of Black fungus in Covid 19 patients. Black Fungus, or Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. These molds live throughout the environment. Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness. The disease can be fatal.
Some of the symptoms of this disease is as follows:
- Face numbness.
- Nose obstructions on one side.
- Swelling in eyes, or pain.
Doctors have highlighted the severity of the problem when they detected 12 cases in the previous year within a short span of 15 days.
According to senior ENT Surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Manish Munjal, these cases are being seen again in Covid patients.
He said,
“We are seeing a rise in this dangerous fungal infection triggered by Covid 19 again. In the last two days we have admitted 6 cases of Mucormycisis. Last year this deadly infection caused a high mortality with many patients suffering from loss of eyesight, removal of nose and jaw bone.”
Doctors have pointed out that the use of steroids could be one reason of this fungal infection.
Dr Ajay Swaroop, Chairman, Department of ENT, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital,
“Use of steroids in treatment of Covid infection, plus the fact that many Covid patients have diabetes as co-morbidity could be the reasons for a rise in the number of black fungus infections again. Covid patients with weak immunity are more prone to this deadly infection.”
A rising slope of the Covid 19 cases in the second wave of the Pandemic and the endless amount of deaths have shaken the country to its core. A new problem in such a scenario brings about a cause of panic among the people.
Source: The Indian Express
