DOES BLACK FUNGUS AFFECTS ONLY COVID PATIENTS?

In this article we are going to see about does black fungus affects only covid patients? 

How Black fungus effects COVID patients?

• Mucormycosis is a rare but serious fungal infection. While the cases of this infection were relatively less, the Covid-19 outbreak has given a boost to the spread of this infection. It is commonly known as black fungus, the infection is now detected among Covid-19 patients across India. With a significant increase in fungal infection cases, the government has mandated that all states have to report suspected and confirmed cases of mucormycosis to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

• Now let’s take a look at what this infection is and why it is caused more frequently among Covid-19 patients. The infection is rare, but once a person is infected, the fungus manifests in the skin or can affect the brain or lungs, many cases of this infection have been reported in Covid-19 patients.

Why is it occurring in COVID-19 patients?

• Mucormycosis can occur after COVID-19 infection, whether during the hospital stay or a few weeks after discharge.

• The COVID-19 generates a sudden change in the interior environment of the host for the fungus, and the medical treatment administered unknowingly promotes fungal development. COVID-19 causes harm to the airway mucosa and blood vessels.

•  It also causes a rise in serum iron, which is required for the fungus to grow. Broad-spectrum antibiotics not only kill potentially harmful bacteria but also beneficial commensals. Although antifungals such as Voriconazole prevent Aspergillosis, Mucor survives and grows due to a lack of resistance.

• Long-term ventilation decreases immunity, and there is conjecture that the humidifier water that is delivered along with the oxygen transfers the fungus.

How Black fungus affects non-covid people?

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection that primarily affects patients with compromised immune systems, but it can also affect non-covid people. Experts warn if left untreated, this can become dangerous.

Black Fungus Treatment

• Mucormycosis treatment must be fast and aggressive. The concern is due to the fact that by the time even a presumptive diagnosis is made, the patient has often suffered significant tissue damage which cannot be reversed.

• Most patients will need surgical and medical treatment.

• Most infectious disease experts say that without aggressive surgical debridement of the infected area, the patient is likely to die.

• Medicines play an important role.

•  Two main aims are sought simultaneously: antifungal drugs to slow or stop the fungal spread and drugs to treat debilitating underlying diseases.

• Amphotericin B (initially intravenous) is the usual drug of choice for antifungal therapy.

• Posaconazole or isavuconazole can treat mucormycosis.

• Patients may even require an intravenous antifungal procedure lasting 4 -6 weeks.

• Patients with underlying diseases like diabetes need to be in optimal control of their diabetes.

• Patients normally on steroids or taking deferoxamine (Desferal; used to remove excess iron from the body) are likely to have these drugs stopped because they can increase the survival of fungi in the body.

• Patients may need additional surgeries and usually need antifungal treatment for an extended period (weeks to months) depending on the severity of the disease.

Black Fungus Risks

• People who fall into the following categories are more likely to develop black fungus.

• Uncontrolled diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, and diabetics taking steroids or tocilizumab.

• Patients taking immunosuppressants or receiving anticancer treatment, as well as those suffering from a chronic debilitating illness

• Patients taking high doses of steroids or tocilizumab for an extended period

• Cases of COVID-19 Severity.

• Patients on oxygen who required nasal prongs, a mask, or a ventilatory support