Mucormycosis or Black fungus Introduction,cause,symtoms,treatment

1. What Is Mucormycosis?
Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, is a
rare but dangerous infection. It's caused by a
group of molds called mucormycetes and often
affects the sinuses, lungs, skin, and brain.

2. It has been seen in countries like India and China,
particularly among patients suffering from diabetes,
cancer, or immune compromising conditions like HIV
AIDS.
Now, COVID-19 survivors — especially those having
co-morbid health issues like diabetes, heart and
kidney ailments and cancer — have been found to be
susceptible to the disease.

3. How does black fungus enter the body?
As noted by an article in Firstpost, the
underlying cause of the disease in India is the
unhygienic way of delivering oxygen to patients
in many places, combined with the
indiscriminate use of steroids in the treatment
of COVID.

4. How is the infection related to Covid-19?
The disease is caused by a set of micro-organisms known as
mucormycetes, which are present naturally in the environment, seen
mostly in soil and in decaying organic matter like leaves, compost and
piles.
In normal course, our body’s immune system successfully fights such
fungal infections. However, the Covid-19 affects our immune system.
Moreover, the treatment of Covid-19 patients involves intake of drugs
like dexamethasone, which suppress our immune system response.
Due to these factors, Covid-19 patients face a renewed risk of failing
the battle against attacks mounted by organisms such as
mucormycetes.

5. In addition, Covid patients undergoing oxygen therapy in ICU,
where humidifier is used, are prone to fungal infection
because of exposure to moisture.
But this does not mean that every Covid patient will get
infected by Mucormycosis. The disease is uncommon in
those not having diabetes but can be fatal if not treated
promptly. Chances of recovery depend upon early diagnosis
and treatment

6. What causes mucormycosis?
Mucormycosis is caused by exposure to mucormyetemolds. These organisms occur in:
● leaves
● piles of compost
● soil
● rotting wood
Contract mucormycosis by breathing in affected mold spores in the air. This is referred to as a
sinus (pulmonary) exposure. In turn, you may develop the infection in:
● central nervous system (rarer)
● eyes
● face
● lungs
● sinuses

7. The fungus can also infect your skin via a cut or burn (cutaneous exposure). In
such cases, the wound or burn ends up becoming the area of infection.
While these types of molds can naturally occur in the environment, not everyone
exposed will get the fungal infection. You may be at an increased risk of
contracting this type of infection if you have a weakened immune system.
Conditions that may increase your risk include:
● burns
● cuts and scrapes
● cancer
● recent organ transplant
● HIV or AIDS
● diabetes (especially if it’s not being treated properly)
● surgery

8. Can mucormycosis cause other conditions to
develop?
Mucormycosis is particularly dangerous because it spreads
quickly throughout the body. Left untreated, the infection can
spread to the lungs or the brain. This can cause:
•a brain infection
•paralysis
•pneumonia
•seizures
•death

9. SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of mucormycosis also depend on where in the body
the fungus is growing.
‫ﬦ‬ymptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:
● One-sided facial swelling
● Headache
● Nasal or sinus congestion
● Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly
become more severe
● Fever

10. ‫ﬦ‬Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:
● Fever
● Cough
● Chest pain
● Shortness of breath
‫ﬦ‬ Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis can look like blisters or ulcers, and the
infected area may turn black. Other symptoms include pain, warmth,
excessive redness, or swelling around a wound.
‫ﬦ‬ Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Gastrointestinal bleeding

11. How is mucormycosis treated?
The first steps in treating mucormycosis are receiving intravenous (IV) antifungal
medications and having surgical debridement. Surgical debridement involves
cutting away all infected tissue. Removing infected tissue has been shown
to preventTrusted Source the infection from spreading further.
If you respond well to IV therapy and tissue removal, your doctor will likely
remove your IV and give you oral medications to take.
Common antifungal medications that your doctor may prescribe for
mucormycosis include:
•amphotericin B (given through an IV)
•posaconazole (given through an IV or orally)
•isavuconazole (given through an IV or orally)

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