Cases of mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, are reported from Gujarat in those people who have recovered from COVID-19. The number of mucormycosis cases has increased following Gujarat’s increase in coronavirus infections.

Almost eight persons have lost their eyesight in Surat due to mucormycosis after recovering from COVID-19. They were admitted to hospitals for the sudden loss of vision. In the last 15 days, Surat reported a minimum 40 cases of mucormycosis including eight who lost their eyesight.

The mucormycosis infection, which is triggered by COVID-19 is treatable, however left untreated or if there is a delay in treatment, it can lead to the loss of vision, and in few cases increase in mortality.

As per the US Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, mucormycosis or black fungus is a rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds or fungi called mucormycetes that live throughout the environment. It commonly affects the sinuses or the lungs after inhaling the fungal spores from the air. It can also occur on the skin after a burn or cutor any type of skin injury.

ENT specialist Dr Sanket Shah, Kiran Hospital in Surat explained that the symptoms of mucormycosis appear two-three days after a person has recovered from the coronavirus infection. The fungal infection primarily occurs in the sinus after the patient recovers from COVID-19 and in two-four days, it attacks the eyes. Within 24 hours, the black fungus can travel to the brain.

Dr Sanket Shah said the fungal infection is attacking people especially with weak immunity. The worst affected people are those with uncontrolled sugar levels and people having health problems or taking certain medicines that lower the ability of the body to fight germs and infection.

Dr Ajay Swaroop, chairman of the ENT department, Kiran Hospital, said that the infection is commonly seen in patients recovered from COVID-19 and are having comorbidities such as diabetes, heart failure, kidney problems or cancer.

The two of the common symptoms of mucormycosis is excruciating headache and redness in the eyes. The general symptoms of sinus and brain mucormycosis include:

• Headache
• Nasal or sinus congestion
• One-sided facial swelling
• Black lesions in upper inside of mouth or on nasal bridge
• Fever

The symptoms of pulmonary or lungmucormycosis are:

• Cough
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Shortness of breath

The cutaneous or skin mucormycosis are seen as blisters or ulcers, and the infected area can turn black. The other symptoms are pain, excessive redness, warmth or swelling around a wound. The symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Source: India Today