Chandigarh: Over 50 per cent patients visiting the PGI with mucormycosis symptoms were also diagnosed with Covid-19 on the same day.

“A lot of people are presenting to our hospital with symptoms of mucormycosis (commonly known as black fungus) but they are found Covid positive as well on the same day,” said Dr Gyan Ranjan Nayak from the Department of ENT, PGI.

“The association may be partly explained by the fact that many of them were borderline diabetic or pre-diabetic and their blood sugar levels shot up when they contracted Covid-19. The patients can be asymptomatic for Covid but can develop mucormycosis symptoms,” said Dr Nayak.

Prof Arunaloke Chakrabarti, Head of Department, Medical Microbiology, PGI, said, “A lot of people in our country take medicines without consulting doctors. There is hardly any patient of mucormycosis in the PGI who does not have hyper glycemia.”

“Almost 80 per cent mucormycosis patients were also taking steroids. When they came to the PGI, they were found infected with the fungal infection as well as the Covid,” said Prof Chakrabarti.

The PGI has so far seen 189 patients of mucormycosis, of which 60 per cent (115) are Covid positive.

Telangana State Federation of Chamber of Commerce & Trade (TSFCCT) organized an awareness talk on Fungal Infection “Black Fungus” that is shaking our country now, on Sunday evening.

The Telangana State Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Trade (TSFCCT) which is always in the forefront of organising awareness talks on emerging and new subjects has roped in a well known ENT Specialist Dr. M. Mohan Reddy, a Senior ENT Surgeon, Nova ENT Hospital and a Specialist in Endoscopic Sinus & Skull Base Surgery. The talk was held virtually on Sunday, at 4pm on Zoom Platform. Over 100 people from across India participated

Speaking on the occasion about the prevailing situation in the city Dr. M Mohan Reddy expressed his anguish. Doctors are in a helpless situation. In my career spanning 30 years I must have done 30 surgeries, but in the last 10 to 15 days I have done 30 surgeries. The situation is that bad, he said.

Patients who approach me are asking to operate on them, it is so bad, he added.

Normally when we address a gathering we say we are happy to address you, but I am not very happy. What we are experiencing is a terrible situation, said the doctor. He has also become emotional while explaining the grave situation.

Black Fungus is a rare disease known to the medical fraternity for a very long time. But now post Covid in this second wave we are witnessing many cases. Maharashtra reported 500 cases. In Telangana ENT Koti hospital has 150 patients fully occupied and they are expanding capacity by converting the vaccine Center, he said.

Unlike Covid it doesn’t spread from person to person. As far as cases reported so far have a history of diabetes. It doesn’t mean that all diabetics will get. At the same time all those who were subjected to high doses of steroids need not get black fungus

Surgery coupled with the right medicine can cure 90% of cases. Post Covid patients with a diabetic history subjected to high doses of steroids must watch for early signs or symptoms up to 50 days after Covid.

The common early signs are One-sided facial swelling, Headache, Nasal or sinus congestion, Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe and Fever, explained the Doctor.

Don’t be under the impression that two dosages of Vaccine can ensure protection. That is not true. Vaccines can protect you from only Covid and not from black fungus, the Doctor explained.

Dr Sai Kumar, another ENT Specialist who facilitated the conversation, appealed that there is only one drug that can save patients. Drugs being used in treatment currently Liposomal Amphotericin B for treating black fungus infections is in short supply. As many as 20 vials of this injection are required to treat each infected person. But unfortunately that medicine is in short supply. He appealed to the organisers to use their influence to prevail on the government to ensure smooth supply of this life saving injection. Though efforts were made to develop alternative medicine in the past, the efforts didn’t bear fruit, he said.

It is better to know now about Black Fungus, the new fungal infection which is shaking India, before it teaches us what it is, said Ammanabolu Prakash, President of TSFCCT. Prakash appealed to WHO to find out solution to end this pandemic

Amid Covid Crisis, as if that is not sufficient we are pushed hard now with Black Fungus which is more scientifically known as “Mucormycosis’ ‘. It is already notified under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 by some states. As it is spreading fast and before the What’s App Doctor gets active on this we would like to create more awareness for better understanding by a right person with the right information. So that we can save many falling prey to fake news and misinformation, Prakash said.

We want all those who participated in this seminar to be Black Fungus News Warriors and spread awareness.

Credits: Solus Media, D. Ramchandram,

ent specialist

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