General Knowledge - Know about Mucormycosis

 

           

  

  

When India is already battling with more severe second wave of coronavirus infection pandemic, doctors in the early May, have revealed and raised alarm about the rise of Mucormycosis, another infection that is caused by fungus and reportedly claimed to be attacking patient who recovered from coronavirus infection. With corornavirus infection and top it with black fungus infection, it has become a humongous challenge for the doctors and nurses to treat the patients. Not only patients of coronavirus but also patients of black fungus infection are dying at an alarming rate. Before doctors used to treat this type of mucormycosis infection as a rare infection.

WHAT IS MUCORMYCOSIS? DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK FUNGUS.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY WHITE AND BLACK FUNGUS

Mucormycosis a life threatening infectious disease caused by fungus mold called mucormycetes generally found in moist environment. It is also known as black fungus or zygomycosis. Another mucormycosis disease is caused by white fungus. It is a rare infection. It is non – contagious.  Medical experts claim another type of infection caused by mold is white fungus and is more lethal  in nature than black fungus because it spreads and causes severe damage to the vital organs like brain, respiratory organs, digestive tract, kidney, nailbed or even the private parts. People having low immunity suffering from comorbidities or who are under medication for immunity suppressant are more vulnerable to White fungus infection. While other experts dismiss the claim and said white fungus is mere fungal infection called candida. It is most common fungal infection and is easily treatable with common medicine. Medical experts have advised not to take steroid for covid-19 without consulting doctors or else infection may become lethal. According to doctors, women and children are also susceptible to white fungus.

While black fungus or mucormycosis spread among the people whose immune system has lowered due to covid-19, diabetes, kidney disease, liver and cardiac disorder, age related issues or those on medication for immunodeficiency. This newly detected infection pose a threat to patients who are on oxygen support and is reported to cause fatal skin disease. If detected but left untreated, it can cause death, doctors said.

 

SYMPTOMS OF BLACK FUNGUS.

The main symptoms of black fungus infection are blackening or discolouration of skin over the nose or near the eyes, blurred or double vision and coughing of blood. Mucormycosis involves the sinuses, the eye and it can go on to the brain and nasal. Sinuses is part of the hollow space within the bones between cheekbones and in the forehead. They make mucus that helps to keep the nose moist to protect against dust, allergen and pollutants. The other signs of disease are pain and redness around eyes or nose, fever, headache, shortness of breath and altered mental status like confusion, amnesia, loss of alertness. Patients suffering from black fungus are administered with dose of vials Amphotericin-B and the use of anti-fungus drugs which are easily available in the druggist and chemist shop.

 

SYMPTOMS OF WHITE FUNGUS

According to report by doctors, the symptom of white fungus infection is similar to that of coronavirus like cough, chest pain and breathlessness.

The main reason for the spread of this infection is unknown but it has been detected that cause of the infection is due to the use of tap water used in the humidifier attached to the oxygen cylinder given to the patient. So it was advised to be cautious while using oxygen cylinder.

FUNGUS INFECTION CASE IN INDIA

First case of white fungus was discovered by Bihar Ministry of Health Department and has reported 5 cases in the patient to top it with 119 black fungus infection. Bihar Government has decided to declare black fungus infection as epidemic after Central government asked Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan Government to declare infection as epidemic. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan have the highest number black fungus case than the case reported in Bihar, Delhi, Chattisgarh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

 

            While black and white fungal infection already in existent in a patient, yellow fungus infection is known to be contracting the patient and. It is also fatal like black and white fungus as it is said to be originating internally and more difficult to detect and treat the disease.

            Following the advice of the union health ministry, the Government of West Bengal has declared mucormycosis or black fungus as notifiable disease after the 2 deaths and 10 patients under treatment were recorded. The Government released advisory for controlling black fungus epidemic.

As people catch the infection by coming in contact with fungal spores in the environment, people have been cautioned against having exposure to decaying bread, fruits and vegetables, besides soil, compost and excreta.

"Wear shoes, long trousers, long sleeve shirts and gloves while handling soil gardening. People must maintain personal hygiene and thorough scrubbing is recommended while bathing," the advisory said.

The disease can develop after the fungus enters the skin through a cut, burn or other types of skin trauma.

The advisory said that use of masks is necessary especially during visits to dusty construction sites.

On the management of the disease, the health department has advised adherence to strict diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis control as well as reduce steroids.

"Discontinue immuno modulating drugs and infuse normal saline before Amphotericin B (an anti-fungal medication) infusion. Patients should be monitored clinically and with radio imaging for response and to detect disease progression," the advisory read.

The blood-glucose level should be monitored post Covid-19 discharge as well as regular examinations to find any warning signs, it stated, besides mentioning judicious usage of steroid and antibiotics.

Disclaimer:

This blog is written on the own words of author and also from various news article regarding accuracy of case. It does not have untruthfulness. 

 

By Jessie Yasmin Halim. 

LL.B, LL.M