What is black fungus and how is it connected to Covid?

As India continues to be devastated by overwhelming Covid-19 cases and spiraling death tolls, another public health hazard has started to emerge.

A rare black fungus that is said to attack the organs is being identified in vulnerable patients, including those with Covid-19, as the health system continues to struggle.

In the state of Gujarat, about 300 cases had been reported in four cities, including Ahmedabad, according to data from state-run hospitals as of May 18.

But what is this black fungus, and how is it connected to Covid-19?

What is black fungus?

Black fungus is an infection medically known as mucormycosis.

Previously called zygomycosis, it is a rare fungal infection caused by molds called mucormycetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

These molds exist in environments all around us, particularly in soil.

We breathe them in via fungal spores in the air; the infection often starts in the nose before spreading to the eyes and brain.

Many people come into contact with mucormycetes but only a rare few develop mucormycosis.

It is reported across different publications that developing mucormycosis requires some sort of previous issue which compromises the immune system.

People with diabetes, cancer, organ transplants, and those who have used corticosteroids long-term are most impacted by the mucormycetes, according to the CDC.

What does black fungus look like?

The clearest way to identify black fungus in a patient is through the symptoms.

Early symptoms of mucormycosis can include:

• Pain and redness around eyes and nose
• Fever
• Headache
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Bloody vomit
• Altered mental status
• Discolouration around the bridge of the nose

Is black fungus contagious?

A life science publication, News Medical, confirms that the fungal infection is not contagious and does not spread between people and animals.

There is no vaccine to prevent the infection.

How do you get black fungus?

It is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants, manure, and decaying fruits and vegetables.

People infected with mucormycosis do not have a strong enough immune system to deal with inhaling the microbes of the mucormycetes.

The fungal spores are usually inhaled, and while most people’s immune systems can fend them off, people with conditions such as diabetes or leukaemia that weaken the immune system, or those who take medications that lower the body’s ability to fight germs, such as steroids, are prone to the spores developing into an infection.

Doctors believe mucormycosis, which has an overall mortality rate of 50%, may be being triggered by the use of steroids, which are used as a life-saving treatment for critically ill Covid-19 patients, the BBC reports.

Steroids help in reducing inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 and stops some of the damage caused by the virus – however, this can also result in compromising your immunity and push up your blood sugar levels in both diabetic and non-diabetic Covid-19 patients.

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