What is a black fungus infection?
Infection black fungus (Mucormycosis), or also known as the mushroom mucosa infection, is an infection caused by a type of fungus that belong to the rank of Alavinyat (Mucorales), affects the mucous membranes of the nose, lungs, skin, and may spread to the brain and other parts of the body , To cause many symptoms and complications.
Black fungus infection is considered a rare species to obtain, but it is a dangerous, life-threatening species that requires direct treatment, and humans are infected directly by inhaling or swallowing the spores of fungi, and in exceptional cases, it may find its way into the body through superficial wounds in the skin, and it is worth Noting that the disease is not contagious, that's it is not infection transmitted from one person to another person.
Who is most likely to get a black fungus infection? What are the potential risks?
In fact, there are types of fungi that cause this infection in the surrounding environment, we find it in the soil , and it may be in the mold formed on bread, for example, and it is often associated with decomposing organic materials in fruits and vegetables, leaves, rotten wood, and natural fertilizers. Although we inhale the spores of many fungi in daily life, our immune system and healthy lungs prevent these spores from causing infection.
People with weak immunity are considered the people most vulnerable to infection with black fungus, and these cases include the use of drugs that suppress the immune system to treat some diseases such as steroid drugs, and a group of medical conditions can also lead to this, such as diabetes, especially in people who have levels Uncontrolled sugar, cancer, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), or organ transplants, and others, and this also applies to some cases of people with Coronavirus who have severe symptoms and have a low level of immunity.
Symptoms of infection depend on the location of the infection, the infection may begin in the form of inflammation in the sinuses with headache and fever, and the appearance of dark spots inside the nasal cavity, and impaired vision, and may also cause blood clots blocking blood vessels towards the brain, while the infection may be in The lungs, the patient suffers from pneumonia (Pneumonia), and it may spread to the chest cavity, heart, and brain quickly, and when the skin is affected, the patient suffers from redness in the skin and swelling in it, and the patient may feel stiffness in an area of the skin with pain in it and the appearance of its center in a dark color, and the patient may suffer Symptoms related to the digestive system, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, passing blood in stool, and other symptoms.
Possible complications of black fungus infection include blindness, blood clots, or nerve damage, while the infection can be fatal if left untreated, and because of the rarity of infection, the exact death rate is unclear, but researchers' estimates indicate that 50% of those infected with black fungus lose Their lives, and studies have indicated higher rates at times, as the probability of death depends on the affected part of the body, as the risk of death is higher in cases of lung and brain infections compared to inflammation of the membranes and sinuses.
The treatment of black fungus infection includes the surgical disposal of the infected tissue as well as the use of anti-fungal drugs. Amphotericin B, which is administered intravenously, is considered the primary drug for treatment. From spread, this may include removing parts of the nose or eyes in order to treat this life-threatening infection, and generally the earlier the diagnosis and the early treatment of the treatment, the better the results.
It is worth noting that there are statements by the brother of the late Egyptian actor Samir Ghanem indicating that he was infected with the black fungus after recovering from Corona, which sparked controversy in Egypt about the spread of black fungus infection, and the Central Department for Preventive Medicine Affairs at the Egyptian Ministry of Health resolved the controversy and reassured the Egyptian street by confirming the incorrectness of These rumors, according to local media sources .
Increased cases of black fungus infection among Corona patients in India
While India records a few infections, not exceeding tens every year, the numbers have started to increase during the last period at the annual rate, and infection has been largely monitored among people infected or recovering from the emerging Corona virus, and local Indian media sources, including the Indian site "Quartz", have announced an announcement On 05-22-2021, the government confirmed that more than 8,800 cases of black fungus infection were registered .
These numbers have aroused fear among doctors and specialists due to the high death rate associated with black fungus infection, especially with the wave of the Corona virus that is hitting the country, and in an article prepared by Monica Slavin, head of the infectious diseases department at the Peter McCallum Cancer Center in Australia, and Karen Thiicky, a professor at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunology in Australia is finding possible causes behind this alarming outbreak.
Slavin and Thesky showed that there are different factors that together increase the chance of infection, as damage to tissues and blood vessels due to infection with the emerging coronavirus, treatment with steroid drugs, and high rates of diabetes among the population in India, in addition to the high exposure to fungi in the environment, is likely to play , A role in raising the risk of infection, and this is what we find in the case we are witnessing with black fungus infection in India.
Steroid drugs are considered one of the very important drugs in preserving the lives of Covid-19 patients, as steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs and protect the body from many complications, but they also reduce the body's immunity and raise blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and even those without diabetes, and this is believed to be the case. A decrease in immunity can lead to infection with black fungus.
It is worth noting that steroid drugs are widely used in bone, lung and other diseases, and the problem is not the drug but rather the way it is prescribed in India. India, which often tends to higher doses for longer periods of time, and this in itself is a risk factor for infection, not to mention the absence of a strict drug dispensing law in India, as most drugs - even those that need a prescription - can be easily purchased without a prescription. medical.
In patients with uncontrolled diabetes, the level of blood sugar is high, and this makes the tissues relatively acidic, which in turn creates a suitable environment for the growth of fungi, and this has been identified as a risk of infection with black fungus in India, given the high incidence of diabetes in India, That is often out of control.
Dr. Randeep Jolleria, Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, indicates that 90-95% of patients with black fungus infection have diabetes and / or are taking steroid medications, and he indicates that it is rare to diagnose this infection in people. Those who do not suffer from diabetes and do not take a steroid, and a recent study showed that black fungus infection associated with Covid-19 appeared in 94% of patients suffering from diabetes, and sugar levels were uncontrolled in 67% of cases.
Based on the above, doctors advise Corona virus patients who are infected, or recovering, or those in the process of recovery who suffer from uncontrolled diabetes, and who use steroid drugs, to inform their doctors immediately in the event of the following symptoms that are warning signs of a possible black fungus infection For early diagnosis and getting treatment as soon as possible before the condition of black fungus gets worse:
Headache
Bleeding from the nose.
Stuffy nose
Black nose or throat.
Swelling under the eye or a feeling of eye pain.
Impairment or double vision.
Decreased sensation of the face or facial pain.
- toothache.
Epileptic seizures.
Drowsiness
Weakness of the limbs.
Methods for preventing infection with black fungus infection
With reference to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is advised to follow some measures that may contribute to the prevention of infection, and these measures include trying to avoid dust as much as possible, such as those found in places of construction and excavation, with confirmation of wearing the muzzle, as well as You should avoid direct contact with flood water after hurricanes and natural disasters, as well as with buildings destroyed by water. It may also be useful to avoid activities that involve direct contact with soil or dust, such as working in the home garden, and if this is not possible, it is better to wear long shoes and pants. Long-sleeved shirts and gloves should be worn when handling soil or fertilizer.
Specialists stress the importance of taking care of oral and nasal hygiene, and the need to monitor sugar levels in diabetics to ensure that they are within their normal levels, and that everyone should avoid the overuse of antibiotics. The doctor is given the exact same, and the one who takes care of Covid-19 patients who use oxygen generators must maintain a clean hydration system and make sure that sterile water is used for it.
