LUCKNOW: Mucormycosis or black fungus claimed the lives of four other patients who had successfully defeated Covid-19. However, in the course of treatment, they acquired the fatal fungal infection.
All four patients who died had diabetes. While three of them were women – a 40-year-old from Rae Bareli, a 52-year-old from Ayodhya, and a 50-year-old from Lakhimpur – a 37-year-old man from Hardoi was the fourth victim.
They had contracted the infection while on treatment at other hospitals before being referred to King George’s Medical University (KGMU).
The patients were admitted at an advanced stage of the disease, when the infection had already reached their brain and lungs, said Prof. Sudhir Singh, spokesman for KGMU.
This means that the number of black mushrooms in the city has reached seven. It is a rare infection, but it has a high mortality rate.
In the meantime, three more mucormycosis patients have been admitted to the KGMU, bringing the number of patients treated here to 35 and a total of 45 in the city. Ten patients are being treated in other hospitals.
The ENT department of the KGMU performed operations on six patients.
“We removed tissue damaged by the mucus from inside the nose, eyes and sinuses of patients to save their lives. As soon as the infection reaches the brain or the lungs, it becomes fatal, ”said Prof. Veerendra Verma, faculty in the ENT department.
Doctors said black fungus affects Covid-19 patients who are diabetic and have been on steroids for long periods of time. Steroids are given to Covid-19 patients with severe lung infections.
