Hyderabad: Amid rising cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) at the state ENT hospital, officials said the infection is increasing among non-diabetics. According to official figures, only 30% of black fungus patients treated at the state facility are diabetic.
“There have been many cases with no history of hospitalization, no steroids, or oxygen support, who are non-diabetic and quarantined at home, but still had black fungus. The mutated strain of the virus is responsible for lowering immunity and making patients susceptible to black fungus, ”said Dr. Manish Gupta, Resident Medical Officer at Government ENT Hospital, the nodal center for mucormycosis treatment, which has had nearly 400 cases to date.
Inhaling fungal spores in the environment that may become embedded in the lining of the nose, sinuses, or airways can lead to infection if the immune system is not healthy. When the immune system is suppressed or the lungs are damaged – as in severe cases of Covid-19 – fungal spores can grow in the sinuses or lungs, penetrate deeper tissues and spread to the brain.
Black fungus infection can be life-threatening in immunocompromised people, such as overweight people with diabetes, cancer, transplant recipients, or HIV positive. However, increasing cases of infection in younger and otherwise healthy, recovered Covid-19 patients have led doctors to believe that there are other reasons.
“Many Covid patients had started taking medication on their own without monitoring or controlling their sugar levels. Some also resorted to home remedies. In addition, unsanitary lifestyle habits such as using the same mask multiple times without discarding it can lead to multiple complications and attract black fungus, ”added the ENT hospital’s RMO.
Meanwhile, state health officials said Thursday that there are 44 private hospitals in the state currently treating 278 mucormycosis patients. They said the state planned to streamline the process of sourcing antifungal medicines for private hospitals.
Patients treated in private hospitals must still apply to the state government to receive Liposomal Amphotericin-B – the main antifungal injection used in treatment. However, other antifungal injections can be purchased direct from hospitals from manufacturing companies. “There is currently a shortage of amphotericin-B liposomal injection only that hospitals must apply online for director’s medical training,” said Dr. G Srinivasa Rao, Telangana Public Health Director
