ANI |
Updated: 06/02/2021 11:08 PM IS
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India]June 2 (ANI): In the face of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, diabetes is a major risk factor for the rise in mucormycosis or black fungus cases, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Sidhu said on Wednesday.
Sidhu said the Punjab government of Captain Amarinder Singh was committed to saving the lives of patients suffering from mucormycosis in the same vein as they had fought for the prevention and control of COVID-19.
He said that after analysis by health experts, it had come to light that diabetes was a major risk factor in mucormycosis cases.
Sidhu said 300 cases of mucormycosis had been reported in the state to date, of which 259 cases were from Punjab and 41 cases from other states. He said 23 patients have been cured and 234 patients are being treated in various hospitals across the state, but 43 patients have died of mucormycosis during the course of the disease.
The Minister of Health said that 25 percent of mucormycosis cases were in the 18-45 age group, 38 percent in 45-60 and 36 percent of cases in the over 60 age group. While 80 percent of mucormycosis cases were COVID cases, 87 percent of mucormycosis cases had diabetes as the main risk factor. 32 percent of the cases were immunocompromised.
“Of 43 deceased patients, 88 percent had COVID, 86 percent had a history of steroids, and 80 percent were diabetic,” he added.
Sidhu appealed to patients who tested positive for COVID or who have had COVID-19 in the recent past and are diabetic to avoid steroids and consult doctors if they have a stuffy nose, blackish discharge from the nose, or discoloration of the inside of the mouth so that treatment could be initiated at the earliest.
In particular, the Punjab government has already reported mucormycosis under the Epidemic Disease Act. (ANI)
