Black fungus blinds Gujarat Covid patients
‘Black fungus’ cases rising in 2nd wave ■ 8 Covid survivors die in Maha, 7 patients lose eyesight in Guj
Ahmedabad, May 8: Cases of Mucormycosis, a fungal infection, affecting some Covid-19 survivors are on the rise in Gujarat which has left many patients blind, doctors and officials claimed on Saturday.
Mathur Savani, chairman of Surat-based Kiran Super multi-speciality hospital, said that mucormycosis was detected in a patient who had recovered from Covid-19 disease around three weeks back.
“This number has gone up to around 50 now while 60 more such patients are awaiting treatment,” Mr Savani said. The hospital, which is managed by a trust, has been receiving several patients diagnosed with Mucormycosis who are being referred from various areas in Surat and other parts of Gujarat, he said. “As of now, 50 mucormycosis patients are getting treated at Kiran Hospital and 60 others are awaiting (treatment). They all came to our hospital in the last three weeks.
All the patients who are suffering from mucormycosis had recovered from Covid-19 recently,” said Mr Savani.
◗ IN MAHARASHTRA, at least eight Covid survivors have lost vision in an eye due to mucormycosis and 200 others are being treated, said Dr Tatyarao Lahane, who heads the state government’s Directorate of Medical Education and Research.
Ahmedabad/Mumbai, May 8: Cases of mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection, are on the rise among Covid survivors, causing blindness or other serious issues, health officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat said on Saturday.
Mathur Savani, chairman of Surat-based Kiran Super Multi-speciality Hospital, said mucormycosis patients are coming to his hospital from many parts of Gujarat.
“Fifty mucormycosis patients are being treated and 60 more are awaiting treatment,” Mr Savani told PTI.
Seven such patients lost their eyesight, he said.
The civil hospital in Surat has set up a facility for such patients, said incharge Resident Medical Officer Dr Ketan Naik.
In Ahmedabad, at least five mucormycosis patients are being operated upon every day at the Asarva civil hospital, a senior doctor said.
“We get five to 10 such cases daily, especially since the second wave of Covid started,” said Dr Devang Gupta, ENT specialist at the hospital.
“At least one in five cases is related to eyes. Many are suffering from blindness,” he said.
In Maharashtra, at least eight Covid survivors have lost vision in an eye due to mucormycosis and 200 others are being treated, said Dr Tatyarao Lahane, who heads the state government's Directorate of Medical Education and Research.
“They survived Covid but the fungal infection attacked their weakened immune system,” he said.
Dr Lahane earlier said the eight Covid survivors had died but later clarified that he said so inadvertently.
This disease is not new but is on the rise among Covid patients because the use of steroids elevates sugar level and some medicines suppress the patients’ immunity, he said.
“In such a situation, the fungus infects the patient easily. In one such case, one of the eyes of a patient had to be removed permanently to save his life,” Dr Lahane said.
Also called the black fungus, it is present in the environment, and those with suppressed immunity or co- morbidities are more vulnerable to infection, he said.
Symptoms of mucormycosis include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision, Dr Lahane said.
The treatment involves injections for 21 days. The basic cost of the injections is around `9,000 per day, he said.
Dr Hetal Marfatia, professor and head of the ENT department at the government-run KEM hospital in Mumbai, said a surge in mucormycosis cases is being witnessed in the last two weeks. “On average, two or three such patients are visiting the hospital every day,” he said.
Many of these patients come from outside Mumbai and cannot afford the treatment cost, he said.
This fungal infection came to light during the first 'wave' of the pandemic, typically a couple of weeks after the patient was discharged, Dr Marfatia said.
“But now some patients are contracting this infection even while undergoing Covid treatment,” he said.
Niti Aayog Member (Health) V.K. Paul on Friday had said that mucormycosis cases were being found in patients with Covid.
“It is caused by a fungus named mucor, which is found on wet surfaces. It, to a large extent, is happening to people who have diabetes. It is very uncommon in those who are not diabetic. There is no big outbreak and we are monitoring it," he had said. “When a patient is on oxygen support, it should be ensured that water does not leak from the humidifier (to prevent the growth of the fungus)," he said, while also calling for "a rational usage" of steroids and medicines such as Tocilizumab to treat Covid patients.