Anupama Nair
www.mediaeyenews.com
If Corona Virus, the “mere virus”, that had not held the world in its grasp was not enough, we now have Black Fungus or Mucormycosis to deal with along with the deadly second wave. The last eighteen months was one which saw the destruction for the entire world with millions of positive cases and many millions losing their lives.
What is this Black Fungus? It is a serious fungal infection, usually in people with reduced ability to fight diseases or low immunity. Symptoms depend on the part of the body where the infection occurs. It most commonly infects the sinuses and brain resulting in a runny nose, one-sided facial swelling and pain, headache, fever and tissue death. Other forms of disease may infect the lungs, intestines, and stomach and mainly eyes. If not taken care, a patient can lose his or her vision
It is spread by micro-organisms of molds of the type Mucorales, most often through inhalation, eating contaminated food, or contamination of open wounds. These fungi are common in decomposing organic matter (such as rotting fruit and vegetables), and animal manure. Thankfully it not does spread between human contact like Corona.
Is it connected to Corona? Yes would be the answer. Doctors believe mucormycosis, that has an overall mortality rate of 50%, may be being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients. Steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 patients and appear to help some of the damage that can happen when the body's immune system goes into overdrive to fight off the Corona virus. But they also reduce immunity and push up blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic Covid-19 patients. Doctors across the world believe that “Diabetes lowers the body's immune defenses, coronavirus exacerbates it, and then steroids which help fight Covid-19 act like fuel to the fire". Doctors believed they were “surprised by the severity and the frequency of this fungal infection during the second wave, compared to some cases during the first wave last year”.
Treatment is generally with amphotericin B and surgical debridement (a procedure for treating a wound in the skin). Amphotericin B is an antifungal medication used for serious fungal infections. It is an intra venal injection. Preventive measures for Black fungus include wearing a face mask in dusty areas, avoiding contact with buildings damaged by water, and protecting the skin from exposure to soil when gardening or doing certain outdoor work. It tends to progress rapidly and is fatal in about half of sinus cases and almost all cases of the widespread type. The first case of mucormycosis was possibly one described by Friedrich Kuchenmeister ( German doctor) in 1855.
This is a ‘black disaster’ hitting the world already ravaged with ‘red corona’. Lord help us from more Pandemics. The only way, we can avoid it is as they say “Prevention is better than cure”.
