Indian health authorities have detected an increased incidence of mucormycosis, a rare and sometimes deadly infection known as black fungus, among coronavirus patients. However, they have clarified that it is a disease that is not directly related to Covid-19.
Mucormycosis is a fungal infection of the sinuses, brain, or lungs that is contracted when fungal spores are inhaled from the air. Its symptoms are itchy eyes and/or nose, headache, fever, vomiting blood and difficulty breathing, in addition to altering the mental status of patients who contract it. Thus, some recommendations to prevent the appearance of this infection is to maintain adequate hygiene, use a mask or protect the whole body when gardening.
The black fungus appears in people with a weakened immune system
The appearance of this symptomatology usually occurs mainly in people with a weakened immune system. Thus, the doctor specializing in infectious diseases Atul Patel explains to Efe that this fungal infection mainly affects “patients with uncontrolled diabetes or who have some complications from diabetes.” For its part, the Indian National Task Force for Covid-19 explains that this infection mainly affects people who are taking medications for other health problems that reduce their ability to fight environmental pathogens.
Regarding the increased incidence of this disease among coronavirus patients, Dr. Atul Patel finds an explanation in the use of steroids for the treatment of covid-19 infection. People who have recently received an organ transplant or have spent a long time in the ICU may also be more susceptible to this infection.
Facebook Comments
Disqus