Suresh Kishanrao*

Public Health Consultant and Visiting Professor-MPH, Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Gadag, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding Author: Suresh Kishanrao, Public Health Consultant and Visiting Professor-MPH, Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Gadag, Karnataka, India.

Received: June 01, 2021; Published: June 29, 2021

Abstract

The cases of mucor mycotic infections are on the rise in the wake of rise in Covid 19 cases and recovery since a month or so in India. As of end May 2021, India has recorded over 19000 cases across the country. Among all the opportunistic fungus worldwide Aspergillosis is the most common variety. Globally outbreaks of mucor mycosis have occurred due to contaminated products such as hospital linens, medications, and packaged foods. Three types of fungi colloquially called as Black, White, and yellow fungus have identified. While the black fungus infection is the most prevalent both as single and combined infections, the other 2 are reported along with the black fungus recently. Misuse of steroids in managing Covid 19 cases especially among diabetics is attributed playing a major role behind this infection. Other contributory factors being blamed are long stay in ICU, unclean water used is dehumidifiers of the Oxygen cylinders and ventilators, unclean masks and going in the dusty construction sites after recovery from the Covid 19 infection. The symptoms appeared on an average of 2-3 weeks after patients were discharged from hospital, shortest interval being as early as 5-6 days after testing positive for Covid 19. One eye care hospital in Mumbai that used to see about 5-6 cases in the entire year before the pandemic has reported more than 10 MM patients first two weeks of May 2021.

Diagnosis: A biopsy, usually from the nose, can confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment and Prognosis: Most patients with infection are admitted to hospitals and treated with Amphotericin B Injections and recover well if treated early. Some required surgery to debulk or reduce the fungal load. In some cases, ENT/Ophthalmic surgeon report removing parts of the eye or sinus system, leading to partial or complete vision or hearing loss. When the infection spreads all over the body, or to the brain patients usually succumb to death.

Due to sudden upsurge of cases India need of Amphotericin B injections has gone up to 1-1.5 million vials per month vials as against domestic production capacity of 800,000 vials per month. The national government has swung into quick action to import another 700,000 vials per month to fulfil the GOI and State governments commitment of free treatment for the illness.

Days after the GOI’s prompting the State Governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh etc. have classified mucor mycosis, as a notifiable disease under the epidemic diseases Act, 1897, that will give better data, management, and outcome information.

Methodology: This article has used the GOI, MOH&FW and State Health departments (NHM) periodical bulletins and press releases, TV, social media, and print media reports and a few published articles.

Keywords: Mucor Mycosis; Black Fungus; White Fungus; Yellow Fungus; Uncontrolled Diabetes; Corticosteroids; Ophthalmologist; ENT Specialist; Brain Invasion; GI Track Infection

References

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Citation

Citation: Suresh Kishanrao. “Fulminating Fungal Infections Complicating Covid19 Recovery in India”. Acta Scientific Women's Health 3.6 (2021): 39-46.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2021 Suresh Kishanrao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.