In early May, doctors in India feared an alarming rise in mucormycosis – a rare and potentially deadly infection also known as black fungus. Many of those who are infected are coronavirus-infected patients, or those who have recovered from Covid-19, whose immune system has been weakened by the virus, or who suffers from other diseases especially diabetes.
In recent weeks, thousands of cases of black fungus have been reported across the country, with hundreds hospitalized and at least 90 dead.
How can we get infected and what are the symptoms?
Black fungus is caused by mold found in humid environments such as soil or compost and can affect the respiratory tract. It is not contagious and does not spread from person to person.
Some types of fungi can cause the disease. These fungi are not harmful to most people, but can cause serious infections in people with weakened immune systems, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports abcnews.al
Black fungus usually affects the sinuses or lungs as a person inhales fungal spores into the air, and can also affect the skin after a superficial injury such as a cut or burn. Symptoms depend on where the fungus grows on the body, but may include swelling of the face, fever, ulcers, and lesions in the mouth.
“The disease first appears as a skin infection, mainly in the forehead, nose, cheekbones and between the eyes and teeth,” the Indian Ministry of Health said in a statement on May 14.
“It then spreads to the eyes, lungs and can also spread to the brain. “It causes chest pain, difficulty breathing and coughing.” “One of the ways the mucormycosis spreads is in the blood vessels,” said Dr. Hemant Thacker, consulting physician and specialist at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.
In more severe cases, the infection “passes through the blood vessels to the brain”, causing vision loss.
“If not controlled, not treated, there can be a mortality rate of 20% to 50%.”
According to a 2005 study, in 929 of cases dating back to 1885 a mortality rate of 54% was detected, according to the CDC. The mortality rate also depends on the type of fungus involved and which part of the body is affected. For example, it is less deadly for people with sinus infections, but more deadly for those with lung infections, reports abcnews.al
What’s the connection of “black mushrooms” with Covid-19?
People with weak immune systems are more susceptible to infection – including patients with Covid-19, diabetic patients, and people with other diseases such as cancer or organ transplants, said the Indian Ministry of Health. Patients with Covid are particularly most affected not only because the virus affects their immune system but the medications used to treat the treatment drugs may lower the immune defenses.
Covid patients undergoing oxygen therapy at the ICU may have moisture in the ward – which may increase their risk exposure and make them more prone to such infections, the ministry said.
“Mushrooms exploit open gates and invade the body,” Thacker said. “This body has an open door because of Covid, because of sugars (high glucose levels), because of antibiotics.”
The ministry warned “this does not mean that every Covid patient will be infected with mucormycosis”, as it is uncommon in people who do not suffer from diabetes. According to the data, the prevalence of diabetes in the country is at 12% to 18% of the adult population, especially in urban areas.
“India is the diabetic capital of the world,” said Thacker of Breach Candy Hospital. “We have a tropical climate where fungi are more prevalent. “So all this has led to the black mushroom epidemic.”
