As India continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic, new outbreaks of the deadly “black fungus” are causing COVID-19 patients to lose their eyes, noses and jaws.
Indian health officials have reported 45,374 cases of this rare infection called mucormycosis, and more than 4,200 people have died in the past two months.
Black fungus is a very aggressive disease that affects the sinuses, brain and lungs of people. Anti-fungal injections can combat this disease. In worse cases, the doctor will remove the patient’s eyes, nose, and chin to prevent the virus from spreading to the brain.
Doctors believe that this epidemic with a mortality rate of 50% may be related to the steroids used to treat COVID-19. These steroids can reduce the lung inflammation caused by the virus, but they can reduce the body’s immune level and cause the blood sugar level to rise.
“Diabetes will lower the body’s immune defenses, the coronavirus will exacerbate it, and then the steroids that help fight Covid-19 are like adding fuel to the fire,” Mumbai ophthalmologist Dr. Akshay Nair told British Broadcasting Corporation.
Steroid therapy used to fight COVID-19 may also increase the risk of patients forming blood clots and malnourished tissues, which may become the target of black fungus.
Fungi develop in the body of people who inhale fungal spores from the air.Mucormycosis usually affects people with health problems or skin trauma, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to reports, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, India only recorded an average of 20 black fungus cases per year among people with severely impaired immunity. ABS-CBN News.
Health officials are now battling an outbreak of mucormycosis across the country. Maharashtra and Gujarat have recorded more than 1,700 deaths, making them the two hardest-hit states.
However, health experts believe that the number of black fungus cases and deaths may be underestimated, and pointed out that only a small percentage of cases reach medical institutions in large cities.
Experts added that many patients died before receiving medical care in the hospital. Many recovered patients also relapsed.
Dr. Nair said: “We have seen patients who have received active treatment and been discharged from the hospital return due to repeated infections. This is manifested in the wider spread of the disease in the eyes or brain.”
Mucormycosis, known as “black fungus”, is caused by mold found in soil and decaying organic matter (such as rotting leaves)
Photo: AFP/Uma Shankar MISHRA
