by UT Administration declares black fungus as an epidemic, with 23 patients receiving care at two hospitals in the area.
According to a notification issued by Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health, UT, Chandigarh was threatened with the outbreak of a dangerous epidemic, namely mucormycosis, among the immune-compromised, especially Covid-19 patients on steroids, and that the existing legal provisions were inadequate to manage the disease.
All healthcare facilities, including private ones, will now follow the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s guidelines for mucormycosis screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Any suspected or confirmed case of mucormycosis will be reported to the Health Department by all healthcare facilities. Without the permission of the Health Department, no individual, entity, or organisation will disseminate any information or material for the management of mucormycosis.
A committee will be created, chaired by the Director of Health and Family Welfare at UT, with specialists in internal medicine, ophthalmology, ENT, and epidemiology as members, to investigate any disobedience of the notification by any individual or organisation.
16 black fungus patients are receiving treatment at the PGI in the UT, while seven are receiving treatment at the GMCH in Sector 32.
Table of Contents
What is the cause of mucormycosis?
Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, is a fungal infection complication. Mucormycosis contracts by coming into contact with fungal spores in the atmosphere. It may also appear on the skin after the fungus reaches the body through a cut, scrape, burn, or another form of skin trauma.
Patients who are recovering or have recovered from Covid-19 have been found to have the disease. Anyone who has diabetes and has a weak immune system should be on the lookout for it.
Covid-19 patients are at risk due to a variety of factors.
- Diabetes that is out of control
- Owing to the use of hormones, the immune system gets weaker.
- Intensive care unit (ICU) or hospitalisation for an extended period of time
- Comorbidities, post-organ transplant complications, and cancer
- Voriconazole treatment (used to treat serious fungal infections)
Relation of black fungus with Covid
- The immune system of the human body normally battles fungal infections successfully. Covid-19 patients, on the other hand, they treat with drugs that inhibit the immune system’s reaction. As a result, Covid-19 patients are at an increased risk of succumbing to attacks by species such as mucormycosis.
- Furthermore, because of the moisture exposure, Covid patients receiving oxygen therapy in the ICU, where the use of humidifiers, are susceptible to fungal infection.
- Although the condition is rare in people who do not have diabetes, it can be fatal if not treated quickly.
- Early diagnosis and care are critical for a successful recovery.
Signs and Symptoms
- Nasal blockage or obstruction, nasal discharge (bloody or brown/black), and local pain are the first symptoms.
- Pain, numbness, or swelling in the face
- Headache, pain in the orbits
- Toothache is a common ailment.
- Painful blurred or double vision
White fungus more dangerous than black fungus
Since it affects the lungs as well as other parts of the body such as the nails, skin, stomach, kidney, brain, private parts, and mouth, white fungus infection is more harmful than black fungus infection.
White fungus can also invade the lungs, according to doctors, and an infection similar to COVID-19 can be diagnosed using HRCT on an infected patient.
White Fungus is also affecting coronavirus patients who need oxygen support. These patients’ lungs specifically get the infection by the white fungus. Cancer patients, according to physicians, should be on the lookout for White Fungus. The White Fungus also infects children and women, and it is the primary cause of Leucorrhoea, according to physicians.
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