Gurgaon: Doctors in Gurgaon, which has the highest number of mucormycosis – aka black fungus – in the state, observed that nearly 9 out of 10 of these patients have diabetes.
As of May 30, Haryana had reported 821 cases of black fungus, of which the city counted 222. Officials involved said the fungal infection is more common in diabetics. According to the data, 85% of black fungus patients (189) in Gurgaon have diabetes.
Interestingly, doctors have not found a history of steroid use or oxygen support for Covid treatment in several patients. According to the Ministry of Health, 44 patients had never used medical oxygen before the black fungus appeared, and 29 of them had never received steroid therapy. Notably, 95% of patients suffer from rhinocerebral mucormycosis.
According to the data, 12 patients are immunocompromised and 21 are comorbid. Of the 222 patients, 165 are men and 57 women.
When analyzing the age-related data, it was found that the highest number of patients (94) were in the 46-60 year old age group. There are now 70 patients over 61 years old, 57 between 19 and 45 years old and one patient under 18 years of age.
“We also found that 212 black fungus patients are Covid positive while 10 of them show no symptoms of the virus,” said Dr. Virender Yadav, Chief Medical Officer, Gurgaon.
Dr. Shashank Vashist, ENT consultant at Columbia Asia Hospital in Palam Vihar, said, “It is a fungal infection that is common in people with diabetes. It affects the middle part of the ear and nose. It attacks nearby bones and causes serious complications. We give steroids to patients suffering from Covid for a long time. Many of these patients are diabetics. ”
According to doctors, people over 50 have associated diseases of civilization.
With age, the immune system also weakens, making them susceptible to infection. Patients with uncontrolled sugar levels or latent diabetics are at risk of developing mucormycosis during Covid treatment.
Mucormycosis affects people with weak immune systems such as people with uncontrolled diabetes, cancer patients, dialysis patients, transplant patients, and those with other chronic diseases.
People taking steroids and other immunomodulating drugs like tocilizumab are also at risk of developing mucormycosis.
Dr. Amitabh Malik, chief ENT at Paras Hospital, said, “When a diabetic has Covid, they are given a steroid that also weakens immunity and increases sugar levels. This is not a new form of Covid infection. ”
Common symptoms associated with black fungus include headache, facial pain, nasal congestion, loss of vision or eye pain, swelling of the cheeks and eyes, and black crust on the nose.
It is treated surgically by removing all dead and infected tissues, and patients must undergo antifungal therapy.
Doctors added that rash and prolonged use of steroids and taking tocilizumab are some of the reasons behind this disease. Working at the right time and for the right duration during a Covid infection and early detection of this disease can save lives.
