Notifications
Clear all

Covid-19 and Mucormycosis

35 Posts
35 Users
19 Likes
603 Views
(@ashishjoshi)
Posts: 121
Reputable Member Admin
Topic starter
 

Please share your thoughts about Covid-19 and Mucormycosis, the black fungus.

 
Posted : June 20, 2021 3:03 am
M, Mirzaadil, Loghashree and 2 people reacted
(@megha_or)
Posts: 3
New Member
 

                                                                      COVID-19 AND MUCORMYCOSIS
INTRODUCTION:
SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 treatment make the immune system vulnerable to other infections, including black fungus (Mucormycosis). With the rise in black fungus cases, India faces a shortage of treatments in the face of two epidemics. COVID-19 leads to a weakened immune system, preventing the body from effectively protecting against infection. As a result, individuals recovering from COVID-19 are at risk for mucormycosis. Higher rates of mucormycosis cases in India are due to a combination of factors. For instance, more than 30 million people in India have a diabetes diagnosis. Mucormycosis is a rare type of fungal infection that occurs through exposure to fungi called mucormycetes. These fungi commonly occur in the environment.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUCORMYCOSIS: -
·       Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain)
·       Pulmonary (lung)
·       Gastrointestinal
·       Cutaneous (skin)
Respiratory-related symptoms include:
·       cough
·       fever
·       headache
·       chest pain
·       nasal or sinus congestion and pain
·       shortness of breath
   Skin-related symptoms:
  which can occur in and spread to any part of the body, include:
·       blackened skin tissue
·       redness, swelling, tenderness
·       blisters
·       ulcers
Mucormycosis contagious or non-contagious?
Mucormycosis is not contagious, and most people who come in contact with the fungi do not develop an infection. However, people with severely weakened immune systems are at increased risk of mucormycosis. This includes people with:
·       diabetes                                                                                                    
·       cancer
·       HIV
·       skin injury
·       surgery
TREATMENT:
By administering antifungal medication or performing surgery to remove the affected area. If left untreated, mucormycosis can be fatal, with a mortality rate of 54%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Steroids treatments for COVID-19 may also act as to suppress the body’s immune response, contributing to these increased mucormycosis infection rates. Oxygen support for people with severe COVID-19 can cause drying of the nasal cavity and further increase the risk of infection.

 

 CITATIONS:
    //www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19    increases-  black-fungus-infection-risk-in-india 
 
 

 
Posted : June 26, 2021 6:13 pm
(@suruthy-a)
Posts: 1
New Member
 

ABSTRACT-

Mucormycosis (MCR) has been increasingly described in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but the epidemiological factors, presentation, diagnostic certainty, and outcome of such patients are not well described. We review the published COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAMCR) cases (total 41) to identify risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes. CAMCR was typically seen in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) (94%) especially the ones with poorly controlled DM (67%) and severe or critical COVID-19 (95%). Its presentation was typical of MCR seen in diabetic patients (mostly rhino-orbital and rhino-orbital-cerebral presentation). In sharp contrast to reported COVID-associated aspergillosis (CAPA) cases, nearly all CAMCR infections were proven (93%). Treating physicians should have a high suspicion for CAMCR in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and severe COVID-19 presenting with rhino-orbital or rhino-cerebral syndromes. CAMR is the convergence of two storms, one of DM and the other of COVID-19

What is mucormycosis?

also called as black fungus is a serious fungal infection usually in people with reduced immunity.

It spreads by spores of molds most often through inhalation, contaminated food or contamination of open wound 

Globally, 43 patients of mucormycosis were identified after they got COVID-19 from December 2019-April 2021 (India’s fungal cases increased in May-June). Two-thirds of these cases were found in India. Diabetes, again, was found to be the underlying cause.

Relation towards immunity and steroids -

People suffering from COVID-19, HIV/AIDS and other viral diseases, congenital bone marrow disease, severe burns, cancers and untreated or irregularly treated diabetes have reduced immunity and are prone to developing mucormycosis. COVID-19 patients who have received steroids are particularly at risk because steroids suppress the immune system. This is why steroids should not be used unless absolutely necessary.

SYMPTOMS-

Symptoms like facial pain, blurring of visions, cheek pain, changes in skin colour and loosening of teeth in patients who have recovered form Covid -19 could be an early warning sign of mucormycosis.

TREATMENT-

Given that a patient is diagnosed with mucormycosis infections, they need to be kept under strict observation. As of now, anti-fungal medications are currently being given to patients diagnosed with fungal infections. If the infection has largely spread to different parts of the body and cannot be cured with medications, all the infected tissues should be surgically removed, which is why, some people even end up losing their eyesight and in some cases even the upper jaw.Following the procedures and the medications, patients might even require an intravenous anti-fungal procedure spanning four to six weeks.

Recent studies round out that the disease won't be fatal if diagnosed in time.

CITATION-

John TM, Jacob CN, Kontoyiannis DP. When Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus and Severe COVID-19 Converge: The Perfect Storm for Mucormycosis. J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Apr 15;7(4):298. doi: 10.3390/jof7040298. PMID: 33920755; PMCID: PMC8071133.

 
Posted : June 27, 2021 3:35 pm
(@riya-semar)
Posts: 3
New Member
 

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection that mainly affects people who are on medication for other health problems that reduces their ability to fight environmental Pathogens.

Symptoms-

  • pain and redness around eyes and/or nose
  • fever
  • headache
  • coughing
  • shortness of breath
  • bloody vomits
  • altered mental status

Predisposing factors for mucormycosis-

  • uncontrolled diabetes mellitus 
  • immunosuppression by steroids
  • prolonged ICU stay
  • Co-morbidities - post transplant/maligancy
  • Voriconazole therapy

Mucurmycosis can be reduced by-

  • controlling hyperglycemia 
  • monitor blood glucose level 
  • use steroids judiciously
  • use clean, sterile water for humidifiers 
  • use antibiotics/antifungals judiciously
 
Posted : July 8, 2021 8:37 pm
(@animeshl)
Posts: 9
Active Member
 

Mucormycosis or black fungus infection, caused due to the mucormycetes fungus.

the infection is being observed recently, specially during the second wave of the pandemic in India, in immunocompromised patients who have recovered from COVID and had undergone treatment for COVID-19 infection by administering them with Steroids (which lead to an immunocompromised state).

Once the fungi invade the body, the fungus produces hyphae which invade blood vessels, causing tissue to die, and clots to form

It is not a contagious disease.

  • Symptoms of mucormycetes are - persistent headaches 
  • One sided swelling of the face
  • tooth ache, tooth loosening
  • blackish discoloration of the face, formation of black crusts

 

 
Posted : July 10, 2021 1:58 pm
(@priya-gupta)
Posts: 10
Active Member
 

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection commonly termed as black fungus and showing variety of colours.

Fungus does not usually come harm, but people with diabetes, cancer, HIV aids ,or who are on longer steroid course, basically people with weak immune system are greater risk to mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis can cause swelling on face or pain, red eye and usually the black patches on facial areas.

This fungal infection can be treated with anti fungal medicines and should only be used with the prescription of the healthcare providers & self medication should be avoided.

 
Posted : July 14, 2021 12:29 pm
Page 3 / 3
Share:
Go to Top