Black fungus cases among some rural patients a cause of worry: Experts
MEERUT/AGRA : The potentially fatal and rare disease “black fungus”, known as mucormycosis or zygomycosis in medical terms, had emerged as a potential threat to Covid-19 patients especially those with underlying diabetes and being treated with a high dose of steroids, medical experts said.
So far, at least half-a-dozen cases of black fungus have surfaced in Meerut region among patients belonging to the rural areas of Bijnor, Hapur and Muzaffarnagar districts of western Uttar Pradesh.
The presence of this rare disease in the rural areas could be due to the use of high dose steroids prescribed by unqualified doctors to patients with Covid-19 like symptoms for quick relief, the expert said.
Besides, three suspected cases of black fungus were found in Agra and Mathura on Thursday. Two of the cases from Mathura had been referred to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) while the case traced in Agra is under investigation.
Chief medical officer (CMO) of Mathura Dr Rachna Gupta shared this information.
“One of the cases was from Delhi and had come to Mathura. Other one was from Raya area in Mathura. Both were referred for All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi,” said Dr Gupta. Beside this, a 56-year-old woman at SN Medical College of Agra exhibited symptoms similar to black fungus, though the symptoms were in preliminary stage.
“The case is under investigation on basis of symptoms,” said chief medical officer at Agra Dr RC Pandey.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, during his Aligarh visit on Thursday, said the government was all set to face the challenge posed by black fungus and soon a statewide effort would be launched.
Dr Pradeep Kumar, senior nephrologist and director of Meerut Kidney Hospital, said with spread of the virus in rural areas, the danger had exponentially multiplied.
Dr Kumar has treated over 30 patients of black fungus prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and recently treated three more patients.
Dr Ashok Taliyan, divisional surveillance officer in Meerut, said, “It is good that doctors are also detecting cases of black fungus at an early stage and working to contain it. Early-stage detection helps in timely cure of the patients because there are multiple factors. Oxygen support for a long time and diabetes in patients help fungus invade the body. Moreover, I doubt that quacks in villages administer high dose of steroids to patients. I hope doctors must be doing research on every aspect of it.”
For his part, Dr Pradeep Kumar said the fungus was present in the air.
“The fungus that is either inhaled or already present in our nose is responsible for the disease. Doctors treating critical Covid-19 patients use a high dose of steroids for treatment, which suppresses the patient’s immune system,” he explained.
“The moment immunity declines, the fungus enters the nasal mucosa and invades blood vessels It generally involves nasal sinuses, the eyes and brain,” he added.
“It becomes fatal after reaching the brain,” said Dr Pradeep Kumar. He emphasised that early diagnosis and timely treatment with amphotericin B (antifungal) injection was the only way to cure this disease.
“In advanced disease, surgical procedures may be required.”
He laid stress on making doctors and Covid patients aware of the early symptoms as early detection could save lives of patients.
He said that pain in cheeks, headache, blackish discharge from nose, pain and watering from eyes in an immunocompromised patient could be early symptoms. Black fungus largely infects patients in the age group of 40 to 80 years.