Doctors have found new cases of fungal infection caused after coronavirus infection which causes loss of eyesight, removal of the nose, jaw-bone, or even death as another deadly disease outbreak has alerted authorities.
Doctors at New Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital have identified new cases of fungal infection Mucormycosis caused after coronavirus infection which causes loss of eyesight, removal of the nose, jaw-bone, or even death if not treated properly.
Mucormycosis, a rare but deadly fungal disease, has been affecting people as cases coming up in Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
According to doctors, the fungal infection is caused by a rare killer fungus called Mucor. The fungus leads to a disease called Mucormycosis or Black Fungus. This disease was previously called as zygomycosis.
During this month, ENT surgeons at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) have seen many cases of Covid-triggered mucormycosis.
This alarming affliction, although rare, is not new. What is new is COVID-19 triggering mucormycosis, they said. Black Fungus or mucormycosis has been a cause of disease and death of patients in transplants, and ICU and immunodeficient individuals since long. However, it is the rapid increase in the numbers seen in unsuspected recovering COVID-19 patients that is causing the grave concern, the SGRH said in a statement.
“In the last 15 days, ENT surgeons have seen 13 cases of COVID-19-triggered mucormycosis in over 50 percent patients, with loss of eyesight, and removal of nose and jaw bone needed,” it said. Mortality is currently being seen in the range of 50 percent (five patients), with certain deaths when there is involvement of the brain, the hospital authorities said.
Cases have been recorded at the Sir Gangaram Hospital in Delhi. Mumbai has also reported cases. A total of 44 hospitalisations, including nine deaths, due to mucormycosis, were recorded by the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, reports state.
In Delhi, doctors had to do resections in about 10 patients over the last fortnight, with “about 50 percent losing their eyesight permanently”. Five of these patients required critical care support due to associated complications. There also have been five mortalities so far in this subgroup, the statement by SGRH said.
Common symptoms of Black Fungus
– One-sided facial swelling
– Headache
– Nasal or sinus congestion
– Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of the mouth that quickly become more severe
– Fever
– Loss of eyesight
How people get Black Fungus disease?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the US, a group of molds called mucormycetes is responsible for causing this disease. These fungal spores are present in the environment and they commonly affect the sinuses or the lungs.
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