BLACK FUNGUS MUCORMYCOSIS- WHY COVID PATIENTS GET INFECTED BY BLACK FUNGUS ?

Black Fungus or Mucormycosis-Why the covid patients get infected by Black Fungus?

Black Fungus or Mucormycosis can occurs any time after covid infection, either after discharge from hospital or in hospital. 

Source: Google Image 

The world is facing a big crisis due to corona virus since last year, many numbers of peoples died due to this in whole world. Currently India has facing the 2nd wave of covid and this wave is so dangerous as it takes life of many peoples. Many problems are coming due to covid like oxygen crisis, hospital beds problems, vaccination problem and lockdown also, when the recovery rate is being good a new virus has come here "Black Fungus" is so dangerous. The world is rise from one problem then a new problem has started, what is going on, no one can understand, everyone is hoping for a new day, a new life and a new start. 

What is Fungus?

These fungus are the organism separate from animal kingdomes and plants. They are universal in nature and can be found in soil, decaying organic matter, plants, air, water, dump places and also in animals as well as in Humans. We all know that they are playing very important role in our ecosystem like bacteria by degrading organic matter into simpler form which is consuming by plants. There are more than lacs of species of fungi out of them some are dangerous for humans. The most common beings are Candida, Aspirgillus, Cryptococcus, Pneumocystis, Histoplasma and Mucormycetes. 

Types of infection caused by these Fungus-

There are many species in our ecosystem and some of them do not cause any infections in Humans but can cause your immune system weak and sickness known as opportunistic infection. This infection has takes already more than 200 life's in India currently and more than 7000 peoples has infected. Those peoples who have been suffered from covid and recovered having low immunity in starting period and black fungus infect firstly to those peoples. The highest rate of tis infection has found in peoples with Diabetes and India has the 2nd highest rate of Diabetes patients. It is also reported to those covid patients who are at ventilators in hospitals. This types of Fungi cause some common infections in humans as listed below-

1. Skin type infections like ringworm

2. Deeper cutaneous infections following trauma. 

3. Deep lung infections and sinus infections

4. Inflammation on cheeks

5. Stuffiness in the nose

6. Swelling in the eyelids

7. This can also infect gastrointestinal system, renal system and can cause a full blown infection

8. Breach in the skin

9. Blood malignancies which result to weaker immune system

10. Manifest around nose and eyes socket, cause blacken nose and can move into brain

Most of peoples has infected by this fungi who have lower immune system or weak immune system, some of other peoples like- Diabetes- Hing blood sugar with acidic environment, because it's also responsible for reducing immune system. Steroid medication can increase the sugar level in blood and can reduce immune system. blood malignancies is again resulting in reducing immune system and patients with iron overdose also infected by this fungi. This fungi infect mostly to covid patients because covid'19 cause damaging the airway mucosa and blood vessels and cause increasing of serum iron which is responsible for growing of the fungus. 

Symptoms of Black Fungus

Discharge from the nose, bleeding and nasal blockage are initial symptoms of mucormycosis. As this increasing or progress of this fungus in body can be destroyed as a large black necrotic mass and can be seen at time of opening of mouth. There would be protrusion of eyeball, loss of movement of eyeball, eye pain, redness and blindness can caused by this fungi when orbits get involved. If this fungi enters in brain due to blood vessels blockage so there will be stroke, hemorrhage, headache, drowsiness, limb weakness and even death is possibly happen. If it's in lungs then it cause similar symptoms of covid'19 like fever, cough, breath shortness and weakness. 

How to prevent 

Prevention is always better that cure as we all knew. Let's know how to be protective from these fungi?

If you are in Hospital

*Maintaining a better hygiene in hospital and cleanliness is must everywhere.

*Mouth wash regularly and iodine gargle's must be done

*Please take limited usage of steroid with strict blood glucose control

*Do not use any unnecessary broad spectrum antibiotics 

*Humidification of water is must sterile and check there should no leakage in humidifier

*Wearing mask, always cleaning hands and body parts

After Discharge  

*Stay at your home as much possible

*Please do regular Yoga and exercise to make immune system stronger

*Always clean your home surroundings and make it free of dust

*Cleaning inside home regularly, maintain oral and nasal hygiene

*Whenever go outside, always wear a medicated mask

*Avoid construction area, fields, grounds and dust area

*Please control your blood sugar

*Regula mouth wash and gargling by iodine water in best

*If you doing gardening please avoid to do so because these fungi are found in plants and soils. Use gloves, mask and boots while gardening