Dr. Randeep Guleria, director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said Friday that “uncontrolled diabetes” with COVID-19 can predispose the development of mucormycosis.
While speaking on black fungus cases, the AIIMS director said, “There has been an increasing trend in fungal infection in COVID patients. This has been reported to some extent during the SARS outbreak. Uncontrolled diabetes with COVID can also predispose to it the development of mucormycosis. “
On May 15, Dr. However, Guleria states that such cases are increasing due to steroid abuse while treating a COVID-19 patient. During a briefing from the Ministry of Health, he had said, “Steroids abuse is a major cause of this infection. The likelihood of fungal infection increases in patients with diabetes, COVID-positive and those taking steroids. To prevent this we should have stop the abuse of steroids. “
What is black mushroom
According to the Union Ministry of Health, mucormycosis is a fungal infection that mainly affects people who take drugs and reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens. Sinuses or lungs of such individuals are affected after fungal spores are inhaled from the air, and it can be fatal if not cared for. Symptoms of black fungus include nasal congestion, swelling of the eyes or cheeks, and black crusts on the nose. According to the latest data, at least 1,800 cases have been reported in India.
On Thursday, the Union Department of Health asked states to designate mucormycosis as a reportable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897. This move will require all government and private hospitals to follow ICMR guidelines for the screening, diagnosis, management of black fungus and reporting of all these cases to their respective Chief Medical Officers. The center has advised doctors and health professionals not to use excessive steroids to treat COVID-19 patients to help prevent side effects and complications such as black fungus. Several states have complained to the center about the lack of the antifungal drug amphotericin B, which is used to treat the infection.
Black Fungus Falls
Mucormycosis or black fungus infection cases are increasing across India, with Maharashtra reporting the highest cases with 2000 cases and 90 deaths, followed by Gujarat with 1163 cases. Madhya Pradesh has reported 281 such cases and 27 deaths, followed by Uttar Pradesh (73 cases, 2 deaths) and Telangana (60 cases).
(With ANI inputs)
