What is black fungus? Black Fungus is a disease which is infecting coronavirus patients. Black Fungus most infect people whose immune system is has been compromised, which causes blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred vision, chest pain, breathing problems, and coughing blood.
India has witnessed the fastest number of rare fungal diseases hitting covid 19 patients. The use of steroids to treat coronavirus will reduce immunity and push up sugar level is also the causing rash of cases. Black fungus is also known as Mucormycosis. The worst-hit state in the second wave of coronavirus has reported 1500 cases of black fungus.
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Symptoms of Black Fungus
- The symptoms of Black fungus disease depend upon the body part where the fungus is growing in the body.
- One-sided facial swelling
- Headache
- Nasal or sinus congestion
- Black lesions on smell or upper inside of the mouth that quickly become more severe
- Fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
The link between Covid 19 and Black fungus
As India is struggling with the deadly pandemics covid 19 the disease name black fungus has infected many covid patients and those also who have recovered from covid 19. India’s health system is struggling to save lives during the pandemics, So the fungal disease is increasing in vulnerable patients.
The Black fungus is found in our homes and is caused by exposure which is commonly found in soil, animal dung, rotting wood, plant material, manure, etc. There is a difference between Industrial oxygen and Medical oxygen. In which cylinder the oxygen is carried and transported and used as rigorously cleaned and disinfected.
This oxygen requires humiliation before being used by the patient. So it passes through sterile water. If the water is not sterile then this is a cause of the Black fungus.
How to treat Black Fungus
As the black fungus cases are rising there is a sudden demand for the drug Ampho B which is commonly used for the treatment of disease. When a person is infected with the disease the fungus doesn’t remain static but spread through the nose, attacks the eyes, and reaches to brain and that is the cause of death of the patient.
When for a long duration it is not detected then several parts get infected. So for that, a combined team of microbiologists, internal medicine specialists, ENT specialists, dentists, surgeons, etc are required.
Where Black Fungus has been reported
The first case of Black fungus in India is found in 15 years old child. This the first case found in Ahmedabad. The boy has discharged from the hospital after a successful recovery from coronavirus. In Gujarat, more than 1100 mucormycosis patients are there those who have recovered from the coronavirus.
Three ways to control the disease by All India Institute of Medical Science are
- Good control of blood sugar level
- Blood sugar levels should be monitored by those who are on steroids.
- Be careful about when to give steroids and their dosage.
How to prevent from Mucormycosis
- If you are visiting dusty places wear a mask
- Wear gloves, long sleeves shirts, long trousers while handling soil moss.
- Maintain personal hygiene
4.The disease can be prevented by controlling diabetes, reducing steroids, and extensive surgical debridement
How does one catch black fungus?
When the fungal spore floating in the environment gives people infection. An individual can catch the disease through the skin through a cut, a burn, etc. Coming in touch the fungus can stick to a body part and after a while, the fungus may enter through the nose, lungs, etc.
When the fungus enters through cuts or burns it may cause local infection, but when it enters through the nose or lungs it may cause eye, brain infection. The use of ordinary tap water inflow meters of oxygen cylinders is also a cause of the black fungus.
People which are more at risk
According to medical science, diabetic, covid patients are more at risk. The black fungus is found in people who have recovered from covid 19. Without treatment, it can lead to lethal bloodstream infection. The fatality rate in black fungus cases is very high. According to the doctor’s drugs used in the treatment of Black fungus may cause severe health problems like kidney problems, neurological dysfunction, and stroke.
Black fungus is a very dangerous disease. Which is affecting the covid positive patients. If an individual will suffer from the symptoms of black fungus immediately concern the doctor. People should follow the guidelines of do’s or don’t by the government to save themselves from the disease. The death toll from black fungus is steadily on the rise in India, medical experts are calling it a ‘pandemic within covid 19 pandemics.’
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