In the second wave of COVID 19 in India, mucormycosis commonly known as the black fungus has been one of the most reported post COVID complications effecting multiples parts and organs of the body including the brain. It has also been declared as an epidemic by several states in the country. Typically, Mucormycosis is not contagious and people do not develop symptoms on contact with an infected person.
However, people undergoing treatment for an organ transplant, heart diseases, cancer, COVID 19, health conditions that severely weaken the immune system as at a greater risk of getting this infection. It is affecting COVID patients more due to prolonged administration of steroids and subsequent immunocompromised state of health. It is reported more in patients who have other comorbidities like diabetes, renal failure, cancer or who have undergone kidney/liver transplant and in patients who have been administered steroids for a long time.
Mucormycosis is a fungus that causes infection in human beings. The fungus is normally present in the environment and causes what are known as opportunistic infections.
In an exclusive interaction with Dr. Piyusha Kulshrestha, Radiation Oncologist, Metro Hospital, Delhi, we tried to understand everything about Black Fungus:
“Black Fungus is a fungal infection as the name itself suggests fungus. Fungus is a substance which we see in the rotten substances like and this is not the first time we are dealing with this but the question is why it is happening more now, well, this is fungus is an opportunistic infection, ones it has a chance to grow inside us it grows otherwise our immunity will not let it go inside our body. Hence when the person’s immunity is low and the particle of this fungus is the air and it goes inside through our nose and mouth and it starts growing if we are not enough strong, “explains Dr. Piyusha Kulshrestha.
Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/XTVMHVVN0ug
