Concern grows in Latin America for more cases of “black fungus”: what are the symptoms and which patients it affects

The detection of several cases of “black mushrooms“Associated with COVID-19 has raised alarm bells in the region. Specifically, infections have been confirmed in Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Mexico, while other suspected cases are under investigation. Another variety known as “Green mushrooms”, which began to worry Chilean health authorities after the emergence of five cases linked to the virus.

// How is the black fungus affecting coronavirus patients

It is a group of fungi that commonly affects the paranasal cavities, airways, and lungs. It particularly affects diabetic or transplant patients who are immunocompromised. In recent months, this disease has affected around 8,000 patients affected by the coronavirus in India.

Cases in the region

The first country to report a case of the disease was Uruguay. Health officials on May 26 reported a case in a diabetic patient, under the age of 50, affected by COVID-19, who began presenting necrosis of the mucous membrane 10 days after the virus has spread.

But it was not the only country to admit the arrival of this disease associated with the pandemic. Chile also announced a case detected in recent days. “The incidence rate is very low, but if the infection is contracted it is fatal,” he said. EFE the doctor of the University of Chile, Mauricio Ruiz.

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Although there is only one confirmed case among the nearly 1.4 million COVID-19 infections in Chile, a study published by the University of Valparaíso warned of the appearance of patients infected with another similar fungus.

The Center for Diagnosis and Investigation of Infectious Diseases at this Chilean educational institution reported five cases of infection with “green mushrooms(Aspergillus fumigatus) also in patients with coronavirus.

“Both fungi have similar symptoms, although black people are deadlier because they tend to grow faster, to necrose and invade the tissues in a short time, ”explained the director of research, infectologist Rodrigo Cruz.

The cases in Brazil

On Wednesday, the Hospital de Clínicas de San Pablo issued an alert to the Ministry of Health after detecting the first case of mucormicosis, better known as the “black fungus”, in a patient with coronavirus, according to the newspaper leaf.

According to the report, he is a 40-year-old patient with a moderate image of the coronavirus. But there are also suspected cases in Santa Catarina and Manaus.

Mexican authorities have also announced the first case in Mexico of a coronavirus patient affected by the “black fungus”.

The patient is a 34-year-old man living in Valle Chalco, Mexico state, according to the newspaper The universal. He is admitted to the local general hospital.

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