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| Source: netmeds |
India is facing a
great problem in the wake of the pandemic. Where Covid-19 has fractured the
bone of the Indian medical system, one more disease has come in front of India
to give it a full system paralysis. Yes, the rare disease Black Fungus is now
awakening up in full swing to give an electric shock to our country.
Presently Indian
Medical System has faced great losses in almost all terms. Several patients
lost their lives due to lack of oxygen or other requirements of drugs or beds.
Several medical personnel lost their lives while saving this nation from the
pandemic.
Now Black fungus is
has posed a new challenge to Indian Medical System and also to made the general
public to be more aware and cautious. But what is this black fungus and how
this fungal infection has become deadly?
What is
Black Fungus?
Black Fungus is a rare
disease that is caused by a group of molds, called mucormycetes. Individuals
are infected after inhaling fungal spores found naturally in India's environment
and soil. Normally it is a very rare disease. According to doctors, there was
only 1 case in the span of 3 to 4 years.
But now it has been
spreading rapidly in Covid-19 recovered patients. The
patients who struggled due to the ravage of the second wave of the pandemic are
now either facing black fungal infection or are deterred due to this disease.
Even doctors are also in panic due to this spread of new disease.
Mucormycetes affect and the lungs, sinuses, and brain of an individual. Moreover, it can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immuno-compromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
Symptoms:
It usually infects
people whose immune system has been compromised particularly diabetic, causing
several problems in an individual’s body. Blackening over the nose, blurred or
double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties are some initial symptoms of
this disease.
According to AIIMS
Director Dr. Guleria similar infection cases were also observed during the
outbreak of SARS. He added that patients with high diabetes and severe Covid
symptoms are the ones who are more and more vulnerable to this disease. He also
informed that patients and individuals who are on steroids can also be the ones
to be impacted by this disease.
Why Corona
patients are suffering due to this disease?
Covid-19 creates an
environment that makes it easy for fungus to lodge itself. Moreover, Covid-19
rapidly decreases immunity to a large extent, and if the patient is diabetic or
a cancer patient and is on immunosuppressant drugs, the likelihood of having
Black Fungus increases by more than 50%.
The Covid-19 pandemic
has not only drastically impacted our countries economy but has also left an
indelible impact on an individual’s health. The patients have become that
vulnerable that their immunity cannot protect them from a foreign particle.
Another reason for it
spreading in regular people is the rampant and indiscriminate use of
steroids.
Steroids
and Black Fungus:
The recovery trial
proved that steroids, when used in patients with low oxygen levels, saved
lives. Steroids have emerged as a 'savior drug' in Covid treatment.
But doctor warns that
the use of systemic steroids in the early stages of Covid-19, in mild cases,
for a long duration, in high doses should be cautious and should keep a regular
check on their blood sugar level.
The use of steroids
can lower immunity and raise blood glucose levels even in non-diabetic, making
an ideal environment for fungus to grow. Hence it is highly recommended to use
steroids judiciously.
Cases in
India:
As of May 21, at least
8,848 cases are found all over India, but as per conditions the cases in India
are going to surge up. Gujarat is the state which is brutally hit by Black
Fungal infections, as per the data there are2281 cases in Gujrat yet now.
Whereas Maharashtra
with 2000 and Andhra Pradesh with 910, which totally comprises of58.66% of
cases in India.
Talking about other
states Haryana, Punjab, Rajashthan, MP, etc. are also facing cases of this rare
disease.
Impact and
treatment of Black Fungus:
This rare but aggressive infection leaves a brutal impact on an individual's nose, eyes, and sometimes brain too. The impact is so severe that in some cases tubes are inserted in nose removed tissues infected by mucormycosis.
In several severe
cases, patients' eyes are removed to save a life. Moreover, doctors believe
that mucormycosis have a mortality rate of 50%.
This rare disease is
curable if the anti-fungal drug Ampho B, which is commonly used for the treatment
of the infection, is provided in time. But the medicine is not available in the
market making the condition more badly. Now the government has allowed 11 firms
to manufacture this drug so that situation can come in control.
In a highly severe
case, complex surgery is the only way to treat the patient. The fungal
infection is so contagious that multiple organs are impacted brutally and have
to be removed sometimes.
The black fungus can
be controlled if we all be aware and keep hygiene. Secondly, newly recovered
Covid-19 patients with diabetics have to be extra cautious and avoid leaving
the house because their immunity is not that strong. If we all will be cautious
and will take care we can surely win in this fight.
Written By - Ashwin
Kalra
Edited by – Adrija Saha
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