What is Black Fungal Infection in Covid-19 Patients

During the surge in coronavirus cases, doctors have found a new ‘black fungus’ infection among COVID-19 patients. The government said that this fungal infection may turn fatal if not cared for. Mucormycosis is a fungal infection that mainly affects people who are on medication that reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens. Sinuses or lungs of such individuals get affected after fungal spores are inhaled from air so  The Union Health Ministry and ICMR prepared a guideline for it. 

What is mucormycosis?

Commonly called a black fungus, Mucormycosis is a rare but serious fungal infection caused by a kind of fungus called micromycetes, which is abundant in the environment. It mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.

The disease might lead to blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing blood, which is strongly linked to diabetes.

Signs: 

• Headache 
• Cough 
• Shortness of breath 
• Bloody vomits 
• Pain round redness around eyes and/or nose

Dos :  

• Control hyperglycemia
• Use steroid carefully and timely 
• Keep a check on blood glucose level post-COVID-19 discharge and also in diabetics
• Use antibiotics and antifungals 
• Make use of clean and sterile water for humidifiers 

Don’t:

• Don’t miss warning signs 
• Don’t delay if you have a blocked nose especially in the case of covid-19 patients 
• Do not hesitate to seek aggressive investigations 

When to suspect in Covid-19 patients:

• Sinusitis – nasal blockage or congestion,
• Blackish discoloration over the bridge of the nose
• Toothache
• Chest pain

Suggested medical treatment: 

• Install peripherally inserted central catheter
• Maintain adequate systemic hydration
• Give Antifungal therapy, for at least 4-6 weeks
• Monitor patients clinically