Three more detected with black fungus in Himachal
HIMACHAL HAD RECORDED ITS FIRST CASE OF MUCORMYCOSIS ON FRIDAY WHEN A 52-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM HAMIRPUR WAS FOUND INFECTED WITH THE DEADLY FUNGUS
DHARAMSHALA : Even as Covid infections are on a decline for past one month, the rise in black fungus cases has left the health authorities in Himachal Pradesh worried.
Three more patients have been diagnosed with mucormycosis in the state.
A 41-year-old woman from Solan’s Arki, who lives in Shimla, has been admitted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) after complaining of loss of eyesight, said senior medical superintendent Dr Janak Raj.
Initial test reports have confirmed presence of black fungus and culture and biopsy reports are awaited. The patient had recently recovered from Covid. He said ENT specialists removed decayed skin from the patient’s nose through surgical treatment and her condition is stable.
Himachal had recorded its first case of mucormycosis on Friday when a 52-year-old woman from Hamirpur was found infected with deadly fungus. She is currently undergoing treatment at IGMC. Her surgical treatment was to be held on Saturday, but couldn’t be done due to her unstable blood pressure and high blood sugar level.
Meanwhile, two cases of black fungus have been reported at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda.
Kangra chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Gurdarshan Gupta said a 40-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were diagnosed with mucormycosis as well.
They had Covid and their samples tested after symptoms of black fungus infection emerged turned out positive.
Dr Gupta said the patients are being treated as per the protocol.
Mucormycosis, commonly called black fungus, is caused by a mould found in soil and in decaying organic matter like rotting leaves. People get mucormycosis, of which there are several types, by breathing in the fungal spores.
Intense headache, pain in the sinus area and the right eye, blurred vision and swollen cheeks are some of the symptoms.
The disease progresses rapidly and attacks blood vessels and live tissues turning them black — hence the name ‘black fungus. The infection needs to be caught early or it may turn deadly. Once spread to brain, the mortality rate is 50%.