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Chile report the first case of black mushrooms, a species of microorganisms that cause a rare and potentially fatal infection. The case was discovered in a patient with coronavirus.
The disease produced by these fungi is called mucormicosis and has been presented as a co-infection in hundreds of SARS-CoV-2 patients in the India and, so far, in three people Latin America: one in Chile, another in Uruguay and another in Mexico.
“This is a rare infection caused by fungi, usually of the ‘mucor’ type which usually occurs in immunocompromised patients or patients with severe diabetes and which is acquired by inhalation,” explained the doctor of the ‘hospital. University of Chile, Mauricio Ruiz.
This non-contagious fungus, Ruiz explained, has been associated with SARS-CoV-2 since it was developed by some patients with very severe symptoms of the virus, “usually people who have been admitted to intensive care units or who have been taking corticosteroids for long periods of time. weather “.
“The incidence rate is very low but if contracted the infection is fatal“, aggregate.
Inside the body, this fungus multiplies and can destroy blood vessels, lung tissue or eyeballs and it is fatal in 50% of cases, according to various studies.
In the Trans-Andean country, a single case has been discovered among the nearly 1.4 million people infected with the coronavirus, yet a study published by the University of Valparaso alerted to more patients infected with another similar fungus.
The institution’s Center for Diagnosis and Investigation of Infectious Diseases has warned of five cases of infection with “green fungi” (due to its color), in particular Aspergillus fumigatus, all in patients with covid.
“Both fungi exhibit similar symptoms, although blacks are more deadly as they tend to grow faster, necrose and invade tissue in a short period of time,” warned the research director, the infectologist. Rodrigo Cruz.
These fungi are present in the environment, we breathe them daily but our immune system is able to cope with them under normal health conditions, specifies the expert.
“The population does not have to be alarmed because there are very few cases, but they must understand that having the covid is not free, the risk is there, “added Cruz.
According to several studies, the incidence rate of this type of disease is proportional to the air quality, Ruiz added, and it occurs more frequently in places with a lot of particles, such as places near buildings or places with a lot of pigeon droppings. .
“Environmental management and air quality control in hospitals, as well as the active search for these germs are good ways to prevent the most serious patients from contracting the infectious picture,” explained the academic.
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