Understanding mucormycosis
THE ORGANISM
It is an infection by fungal organisms known as mucormycetes, which can enter the body through breathing or skin injuries
These organisms are typically in abundance in a country like India, and particularly in soil and decaying organic material such as fruit and vegetables but a normally functioning immune system typically fights it off
THE DISEASE
A mucormycosis infection is often called "black fungus" since it causes blackening or discolouration over the nose
It is often accompanied with blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing blood, as it infects sinus cavities and can even go up to the brain
According to the US Centers for Disease Control, mucormycosis has a fatality rate of around 54%, which tends to be higher if someone had a respiratory illness
THE TREATMENT
It is usually treated with antifungal medicine such as Amphotericin B, posaconazole, or isavuconazole.
If it has spread significantly, mucormycosis requires surgery to cut away the infected tissue, a process known as debridement – which in some cases require removal of the eyes or large parts of tissues
THE CURRENT OUTBREAK
The spike at present appears to be a fallout of incorrect Covid-19 treatment or overuse of some drugs.
Cheap steroid medications used to calm an exaggerated inflammatory response to the coronavirus appears to be the prime trigger, with high prevalence of diabetes making it worse
According to ICMR D-G Balram Bhargava, the fungus thrives on high sugar, making Covid-19 patients with uncontrolled diabetes particularly vulnerable Inadequate infection control in hospitals also risks exposing Covid patients to secondary bacterial and fungal infections