Black Fungus Poses threat to immunocompromised Patients

 Medhavi, Chandigarh :

The rise in the number of black fungal cases among the COVID-19 patients has become a matter of concern.there has been a surge in cases of this fungal infection throughout the country and city is of no exception,  More than 25 patients are undergoing treatment in PGI and GMC sector 32. Although the ailing patients hail from the other states yet it poses the threat to the local residents also.

The rise in the number of black fungal cases among the COVID-19 patients is due to the high glucose levels due to steroids used for the treatment of coronavirus”. “The steroids used for the treatment tend to bring down the  count of lymphocytes hence weakening the immune system, making way for  opportunistic fungal infection.” says Dr. Jagadish Chandra (Consultant Microbiologist, GMCH 32), He also added that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and others on immunosuppressant must be extra cautious as they are more prone to the disease. The infection usually causes blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, headache and difficulty in breathing. The symptoms may differ according to the sites it may infect. With a mortality rate of 50% it can be life threatening for immunocompromised patients. However, precautions must be taken by every individual, to sanitize, to mask up and maintain personal hygiene at all time.

Caused by a fungus called mucor. Earlier a rare infection with only 45-50 cases being reported nually in the country, has now been found to be affecting coronavirus patients, there has been a surge in cases of this fungal  infection throughout the country. The UT too has declared it as a notifiable  disease,