India has been experiencing a spike in the cases of mucormycosis, a fungal infection, in the second wave of COVID-19. AIIMS Director, Dr Randeep Guleria, has stated that the surge in cases of this fungal infection is not due to its transmission from one person to another.

At a news conference on Monday, Dr Guleria stated that mucormycosis is a non-communicable disease. He advised that we should avoid using the term "black fungus" for the disease as the term is not related to mucormycosis. He added that black fungus is another family. The term got associated with mucormycosis because of the presence of black dots in the culture of white fungal colonies. 

He further stated that there are several different fungal infections such as candida, aspergillosis, cryptococcus, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis, adding that mucormycosis, candida and aspergillosis are observed more often in those with low immunity.

Around 90% to 95% of people who develop this disease are either diabetic and/or taking steroid treatment, added Dr Guleria.

He advised that high-risk patients should inform their doctors in time, if they experience the symptoms of the disease. He stated that some of the warning signs for mucormycosis, which include headache, rusting or bleeding from nose, swelling below the eye, reduced facial sensation, if observed in high-risk patients or those taking steroid therapy, must be informed to doctors.

Patients with diabetes have been advised to maintain adequate hygiene and those on oxygen support have been advised to make sure that the humidifiers are cleaned regularly. However, no definite association between oxygen therapy and the development of mucormycosis has been detected thus far.

Dr Guleria said that several patients being treated at home, not on oxygen therapy, have also been infected with mucormycosis. So, there does not seem to be a definite link between oxygen therapy and contracting the infection.

Source: ET Healthworld