Covid-induced black fungi cases reported to Delhi hospital

New Delhi:

Doctors at a leading private facility here are seeing an increase in the number of cases of mucormycisis triggered by COVID, according to a hospital statement.

Mucormycisis is a fungal infection triggered by COVID-19. Black fungus or mucormycosis has long been a cause of illness and death in transplant patients, ICUs, and immunocompromised patients.

According to Dr Manish Munjal, senior ENT surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, “We are again seeing an increase in this dangerous fungal infection triggered by COVID-19. In the past two days we have admitted six cases of mucormycisis. This deadly infection last year caused high mortality with many patients suffering from sight loss and removal of their nose and jawbone. “

Dr Ajay Swaroop, president of the hospital’s ENT department, said the use of steroids in the treatment of COVID-19 coupled with the fact that many coronavirus patients are suffering from diabetes could be one of the reasons for this increase in the number of blacks. case of fungus again.

He said the infection is commonly seen in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but have co-morbidities such as diabetes, kidney or heart failure or cancer.

Munjal agreed with his colleague and said COVID patients with low immunity are more prone to this deadly infection.

“Early clinical suspicion of symptoms such as obstruction of the nose, swelling of the eyes or cheeks, and black scabs in the nose should immediately prompt a biopsy and the start of antifungal therapy as soon as possible,” he said. -he declares.