30 black fungus cases in Ludhiana so far

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 21

After the state government declared mucormycosis (black fungus) as a notifiable disease, the district has confirmed its 30 cases so far.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said the district had received 30 cases of black fungus so far.

He said the cases of black fungus were reported in Covid survivors/patients due to irrational use of steroids or poor oro-nasal hygiene in hospitalised patients and use of same mask for prolonged periods was also becoming a cause for mucormycosis.

“People should not indulge in self-medication and take medicine only after consulting a doctor. It is advisable to use oxygen cylinder only under expert advice,” the DC said.

Dr Navdeep Kaur Boparai, an ENT expert at Ivy Hospital, said the second wave of Covid had been worse than the first and it had led to increase in the usage of steroid, which not only worsens the sugar control but also increases the risk of developing mucormycosis.

Dr Navdeep said the infection spreads along vascular and neuronal structures and infiltrates into the walls of blood vessels. It could erode bone through the walls of the sinus and could spread into the orbit and the retro-orbital area, thereby extending into the brain.

All cases of post Covid-19 infection with such symptoms should be subjected to imaging to confirm sinus involvement and beyond. The prognosis of mucormycosis might improve with rapid diagnosis, early management, including combined antifungal drugs, aggressive surgical interventions and reversal of underlying risk factors.