BEWARE OF NEW FATAL THREAT POST COVID FUNGAL INFECTION IS RAPIDLY INCREASING IN INDIA

BEWARE OF NEW FATAL THREAT POST COVID FUNGAL INFECTION IS RAPIDLY INCREASING IN INDIA

It is a known fact that, Covid-19 has left many families devastated across the globe. The exponential spread of Corona Virus has created an unprecedented impact. After extensive research and meticulous analysis, when we have arrived at a competent position to tackle this pandemic, a new threat has emerged to disrupt the lives of people who got infected and recovered from Covid-19.

 

Covid-19 patients at high risk includes those with acute respiratory distress syndrome, in intensive care units, receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics, immunosuppressants or corticosteroids and supported by invasive or non-invasive ventilation. The patients were most likely to develop pulmonary aspergillosis, oral candidiasis or pneumocystis pneumonia. Among various factors leading to morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, opportunistic bacterial or fungal infections is deteriorating the status of patients.

 

Mucormycosis Fungus which is usually found in everyone’s body is taking the advantage of immunosuppressants and turning into a devastating disease. Covid-19 patients are usually being treated with immunosuppressants to reduce the symptoms. These immunosuppressants are providing conducive environment for Mucormycosis to multiply in few cases where patients have the history of Sinusitis, Diabetes, Dental Problems, Kidney Disorders etc.The post-covid patients are given a large dose of steroids to decrease the Cytokine storm. It allows opportunistic fungal infections like deadly Mucormycosis to enter the body and travel through the nose into the eyes and brain. The most worrying aspect of Mucormycosis Fungal infection is that the mortality rate is 30-40%.

 

Dr. Srinivas Kishore Sistla, Consultant ENT, Head & Neck Surgeon, STAR Hospitals, said, “In the past 15 days about 10 patients have walked-in with the symptoms of Mucormycosis Fungal infections. All of them had been infected and got recovered from Covid-19. Unlike conventional fungus, Mucormycosis enters our blood vessels and affects various parts of the body such as Eyes, Brain and Bones. This is why it is extremely dangerous because there is very less possibility to detect the infection. In most cases, patients are losing their eyesight and other organs permanently to avoid the spread of infection. Not just in our facility, but this is increasing rapidly across India. People who are more vulnerable should be very cautious, consult their Doctors and get checked immediately.” 

 

 WHO ARE AT RISK?

ï‚· Covid-19 patients of all age groups

ï‚· People who have the history of o

Sinusitis

 Diabetes 

ENT Disorders

Dental Problems o Kidney Diseases etc

 

SYMPTOMS OF GETTING INFECTED FROM MUCORMYCOSIS

 

ï‚· Severe Headache

ï‚· Pain in Teeth

ï‚· Body Pains

ï‚· Breathlessness

ï‚· Facial Pain

ï‚· Mild Exertion

ï‚· Weakness

ï‚· Fatigue 

 

TREATMENT

 

ï‚· Removal of damaged tissues / organs

ï‚· Anti-fungal intravenous medication upto 3 Months

 

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

 

If you are in high-risk category, you should immediately consult your Doctor

ï‚· Get thorough health check-up

ï‚· Watch-out for symptoms in your body

ï‚· Stay alert and educate others

 

In this critical situation, it is important to notice that COVID-19 patients can develop further fungal infections during the middle and latter stages of this disease, especially severely ill ones. Treatment for Mucormycosis is not just perilous but also expensive. The drugs used to treat is far out of reach for an average middle-class family. Hence, plausibly prevention is the idealistic approach to tackle this fatal infection. 

 

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