This phenomenon occurs as a result of treatment with steroids and antibiotics in seriously ill Covid patients
Those who have had coronavirus can develop post-ovarian fungal infections, which give serious health complications.
Indian doctors are recording an influx in cases of mucormycosis among people recovering from Covid-19. The very rare infection, also known as the “black fungus”, is normally caused by exposure to mucor mould.
It affects the sinuses, the brain and lungs and is particularly lethal to diabetics and those with compromised immune systems.
The rise in “black fungus” infections in India is thought to be connected to the use of steroids in seriously ill Covid patients.
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Certain steroids have been found to be effective in treating those with advanced Covid symptoms.
They reduce inflammation in the lungs, as well as preventing the body’s immune system from going into overdrive when fighting off the virus.
However, steroids can reduce immunity and increase blood sugar levels in both diabetics and non-diabetic Covid patients.
Doctors believe that this drop in immunity could be triggering the explosion in murcomycosis cases.
Dr Akshay Nair, a Mumbai-based eye surgeon, told the BBC’s Soutik Biswas:
Diabetes lowers the body’s immune defences, coronavirus exacerbates it, and then steroids which help fight Covid-19 act like fuel to the fire.
He said that in April alone he had treated 40 patients suffering from the fungal infection.
According to some infectious disease specialists, people were treated not only with steroids but also with antibiotics. Antibiotics also give dysbiosis of the body. And in this case, against the background of antibiotic therapy plus corticosteroids, which suppress inflammatory processes, can also develop perfectly these fungal infections. This infection can not only affect the eyes and nasal cavity, but also the lungs.
This is a very serious postcovid infection that delays recovery from COVID-19.
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) said on Twitter: “Mucormycosis, if uncared for, may turn fatal”.
The symptoms of infection with the fungus are serious problems with the sinuses, the brain, and the lungs.
The infection can be life-threatening in people who are diabetic.
It also severely affects immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
Treatment involves surgically removing all dead and fungus-infected tissue.
And its treatment, according to Indian doctor, Yogesh Dabholkar, is very expensive.
He added that the nation is running short of these drugs.
Khusrav Bajan, an Indian doctor based in Mumbai spoke to AFP and said: “The mortality rate is very high.
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“Even the few that recover, only recover with extensive and aggressive surgery.
“This is a fast-moving infection.
“It can grow within two weeks.
“It’s a Catch-22, coming out of a virus and getting into a fungal infection.
“It’s really bad.”
Early symptoms of Mucormycosis may include sinus pain or nasal blockage on one side of the face, one-sided headaches, swelling or numbness, toothache, and loosening of teeth.
David Denning, a professor at the UK’s Manchester University and an expert at the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections (GAFFI) charity, said there had been mucormycosis cases in several other countries, including the UK, U.S., France, Austria, Brazil, and Mexico – ‘but the volume is much bigger in India.’
India has not published national data but has said there is no major outbreak.
Other doctors fear the potential for contamination of oxygen pipes and humidifiers in hospitals.
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