Good morning friends,
We are mentally prepared for the “lock down” once again! This time we are faced with new definitions and medical terms….the latest being Mucormycosis also called “Black Fungus” in colloquial term.
Yesterday one multinational IT company based out of Nashik, WINJIT technologies had arranged a webinar on COVID and I was asked about this fungal infection by many young professionals. Whatsup university is really up and running!
When we treat blood cancers with chemotherapy drugs and perform bone marrow transplant, the host immune system is at its lowest. We often see rare infections in such patients, one of them being Mucormycosis. So why are we facing the recent surge in such infections in patients treated for COVID?
1. COVID infection alters our immunity and makes it weak in some aspect.
2. Steroids (wysolone, dexamethasone, solumedrol etc.) are the backbone of treatment imparted for serious COVID infection and they increase the risk. They are here to stay.
3. Diabetes anyways increases the risk of fungal infection.
4. Bad oral and dental hygiene contribute to this illness.
5. ? some unknown causes
So how do we prevent it?
1. Strict blood sugar control while treating COVID.
2. Most important is strict oral and dental hygiene by brushing our teeth twice a day and using mouthwash regularly, especially in patients who are admitted and may not have the best of nursing care in such pandemic situation. Relatives are not generally allowed and hence such oral care also suffers.
3. Early detection by spotting a “black spot” especially in around the teeth/gums.
4. Early detection by observing the eye ball and seeking advice when it looks swollen.
5. In high patients prophylactic (preventive) treatment with antifungal medicines.
The treatment is very expensive and the chances of dying are almost 40%, so prevention is the best way!
If you are in home quarantine please donot worry about mucormycosis infection as I got a call recently from a 23 yr old relative about starting antifungal treatment at home as he was tested positive but wa sin home quarantine!
Please don’t self medicate and believe what you read?
Dr Pritesh Junagade
Lotus Hospital, Nashik.
August 2023
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