Black Fungal Infection

What is mucormycosis commonly known as Black Fungus?

Mucormycosis is a very rare infection. It is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables. "It is ubiquitous and found in soil and air and even in the nose and mucus of healthy people," says Dr Nair.

It affects the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.

How does a patient get predisposed to Mucormycosis?

People with diabetes, those on steroids and humidified oxygen for a long time, and Covid patients with pre-existing comorbidities are the most at risk. Others include patients like those post chemotherapies, those on long-term immunosuppressive drugs.

Also, are those who have taken the covid vaccine, will they survive this black fungal infection? There is no relation between taking the vaccine and fungal infection. If one has taken a vaccine shot, they are likely to have a mild COVID infection which won't require steroids and hence they are unlikely to have the black fungus.

Symptoms of Black Fungus aka mucormycosis

• Facial Deformity
• Headache
• Facial pain
• Nasal congestion
• Loss of vision or pain in eyes
• Altered mental state, confusion
• Swelling in cheeks and eyes
• Toothache, loosening of teeth
• Black crusts in the nose

Black fungus: Dos and don'ts

People have been advised to control hyperglycaemia, keep a tab on blood glucose level after COVID-19 discharge and in diabetics, to use clean, sterile water for humidifiers during oxygen therapy, judicious use of steroid, antibiotics/antifungal.