Covid-triggered 'black fungus' cases reported in Delhi hospital

DELHI:

Doctors at a private facility in Delhi have observed a rise in the number of Covid-triggered mucormycosis or black fungus cases, officials from the hospital reported on Thursday. 

According to Dr Manish Munjal, a senior ENT surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), the hospital has admitted six patients with mucormycosis infection in the last two days. 

"We are seeing a rise again in this dangerous fungal infection triggered by COVID-19. In the last two days, we have admitted six cases of mucormycosis. Last year, this deadly infection caused high mortality with many patients suffering from loss of eyesight, removal of nose and jaw bone," he stated.

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection triggered by COVID-19. Black fungus or mucormycosis has been the cause of disease and the death of patients in transplants, ICUs and immuno-deficient patients.

"Early clinical suspicion on symptoms such as nose obstruction, swelling in the eyes or cheeks and, black crusts in the nose should immediately prompt a biopsy and start of antifungal therapy as early as possible," Dr Ajay Swaroop, the chairman of the ENT department at the hospital said.

He further added the infection is observed in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 but have comorbidities such as diabetes, kidney or heart failure or cancer.

(Edited by Ridhika Joshi)

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