As we all know Mucormycosis or black fungus has been spreading all over India. Here’s what you need to know about it.
What is Mucormycosis? Mucormycosis or Black Fungus is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of moulds called Mucormycetes. These moulds live throughout the environment. It mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight pathogens. It most commonly affects the sinuses or the lungs after inhaling fungal spores from the air. People prone to it are: The people on self-medicated steroids, patients who have been given heavy steroids (like Covid patients), patients who have recovered from serious illness, patients who are on immunosuppressive drugs, patients who have uncontrolled diabetes, and HIV patients.
Warning sign: Constant mucoid Nasal discharge, pain, and redness around the eyes or nose, with fever, headache, coughing, shortness of breath, bloody vomit, and altered mental status.
Symptoms of black fungus Sinusitis — nasal blockage or congestion, nasal discharge (blackish/bloody); Local pain on the cheekbone, one-sided facial pain, numbness or swelling;
Black discolouration over the bridge of nose/palate; loosening of teeth, jaw involvement; blurred or double vision with pain; thrombosis, necrosis, skin lesion; Chest pain, pleural effusion, worsening of respiratory symptoms.