Mucormycosis or Black fungus affecting COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Mucormycosis or black fungus infection is a rare but deadly disease with a 46–96% mortality rate depending on the underlying health condition of patients . This life-threatening new enemy has chal-lenged the Indian healthcare system during the massive second wave of covid-19 pandemic . Mucormycosis caused by the mucorales group of fungi affecting various parts of the body. This opportunistic fungal infection progress rapidly. Recently, the covid patients in India are getting infected by this uncommon fungus at higher rates than ever. At present, the prevalence of this black fungus infection is skyrocketing among covid-19 and post-covid-19 patients in India]. Generally, black fungus affects the body surface and internal organs such as the sinus, brain, lungs, eyes, bones, nerves, body tissues and becomes fatal if left untreated . Usual signs of this disease are sinus pain, nasal blockage on one side of the face, swelling or numbness, one-sided headache, loosening of tooth and toothache, pain in the eyes, and more. The infected patients primarily suffer from eyelid loss, blindness, and blurred vision. The diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis are challenging. The incidence of the disease seems to be increasing. Mucormycosis is an angio invasive fungal infection, due to fungi of the order Mucorales. Its incidence cannot be measured exactly, since there are few population-based studies, but multiple studies have shown that it is increasing. Patients who have high levels of diabetes are at a higher risk of contracting covid-19. When this occurs, they are treated with steroids which compromise their immunity. According to doctors, steroids can prove to be a trigger for mucormycosis. While steroids help in reducing inflammation in lungs they can decrease immunity and increase blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic covid-19 patients alike. The black fungus disease is an additional burden on the country that is already grappling with more cases and fatalities due to the second wave of the covid-19 pandemic.