Mucormycosis
Mucormycosis is not black fungus. Medically, black fungi are a type of yeast which have black melanin pigment in walls. Mucormycosis causes tissue blackening by devitalizing its blood supply and this black appearance has been misreported as black fungus by the media. - Dr Ravinder Gera
image by: Outlookindia
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Mucormycosis: the black fungus hitting Covid-19 patients
Fungal infections can be devastating. And one in particular – mucormycosis – is adding to the burden of suffering in a country already in a deep Covid-19 crisis. We've seen reports from India of infections with mucormycosis, often termed "black fungus", in patients with Covid-19, or who are recovering from the coronavirus.
As of March this year 41 cases of Covid-19-associated mucormycosis had been documented around the world, with 70% in India. Reports suggest the number of cases is now much higher, which is unsurprising given the current wave of Covid-19 infections in India.
But what is mucormycosis, and how is it linked with Covid-19?
What is mucormycosis?
Mucormycosis,…
Resources
Costly mistakes in COVID-19 treatment lead to new challenges
The root cause of mucormycosis or black fungus is the completely unhygienic and dirty way of delivering oxygen to patients in many places in India combined with the indiscriminate use of steroids in the treatment of COVID-19
Rare ‘Black Fungus,’ Mucormycosis, Infects Thousands of Covid-19 Survivors in India
Spread of infections, spurred by use of steroids, leads to shortage of vital antifungal drug
What Is 'Black Fungus'? And Why Is It Spreading Among India's COVID Patients?
"Mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection," Mukherjee says. "Before COVID, people were far more likely to contract it only if they were in a situation where their immunity was weak, say after an operation, a prolonged hospital stay or [an organ] transplant, but today COVID-19 has weakened immunity considerably, leaving more people vulnerable to the disease."
What is mucormycosis, the fungal infection affecting COVID patients in India?
People with diabetes and obesity tend to develop more severe COVID infections. This means they’re more likely to receive corticosteroids, which are frequently used to treat COVID-19. But the corticosteroids — along with their diabetes — increase the risk of mucormycosis. Meanwhile, COVID itself can damage airway tissue and blood vessels, which could also increase susceptibility to fungal infection.
‘Black fungus’ disease linked to Covid spreads across India
Dr Amit Thadhani, the director of Niramaya hospital in Mumbai, said colleagues had begun to see cases of black fungus in severe Covid patients. “Nearly all patients are diabetic or immunocompromised,” he said.
‘Black fungus’ disease linked to Covid spreads across India
Dr Amit Thadhani, the director of Niramaya hospital in Mumbai, said colleagues had begun to see cases of black fungus in severe Covid patients. “Nearly all patients are diabetic or immunocompromised,” he said.
After mucormycosis, reports of a ‘white fungus’ infection emerge: Here’s what we know
“As per medical literature, aspergillosis is not as dangerous as mucormycosis. However, if left untreated, it can, just like mucor, spread to the eyes and the brain and can be fatal,” says Dr Anchlia, Professor and Head of the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at the Govt Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Pathogenesis of Mucormycosis
Mucormycosis is a life-threatening infection that occurs in patients who are immunocompromised because of diabetic ketoacidosis, neutropenia, organ transplantation, and/or increased serum levels of available iron.
Mucormycosis: the black fungus hitting Covid-19 patients
India is struggling against a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases, but a nasty and rare fungal infection affecting some coronavirus patients is dealing the country a double blow.
CDC
Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. These molds live throughout the environment. Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.
MedicineNet
Many different fungi may cause mucormycosis; infections with the Mucoraceae family of fungi predominate as causes; hence, many investigators use the term mucormycosis instead of zygomycosis.
NORD
Mucormycosis is a general term for a group of uncommon infections cause by a fungus (fungal infection). Mucormycosis is caused by a group of related molds from the order Mucorales. An “order” is a scientific term for classifying similar organisms. These infections are usually acquired when spores from the molds are breathed in (inhaled) or, less commonly, enter the body through a cut in the skin.
What is mucormycosis, the “black fungus” disease impacting Covid-19 patients in India?
Mucormycosis, colloquially known as black fungus, is an infection from the mucormycetes group of fungi. It is abundantly found in natural environments, especially in soil. Though rare, this infection has been around for decades, but only impacts those with health conditions and significantly weakened immune systems because of the use of steroids.
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