Black Fungus UPSC | What is Mucormycosis | Symptoms | Causes |

Black Fungus UPSC | What is Mucormycosis | Symptoms | Causes | Treatment – The Union government has asked the States to declare mucormycosis, the fungal infection being reported in COVID-19 patients, an epidemic. In a letter to the States, Health and Family Welfare Ministry said declaring the black fungus infection seen in COVID-19 patients an epidemic would lead to health facilities screening for it and reporting all such cases to the government.

About Mucormycosis:

• Mucormycosis is a rare but serious infection that is caused by a group of moulds called mucormycetes. Colloquially termed ‘Black Fungus’, it was previously known as
• Mucormycosis largely affects people who have health problems or use medicines that depress the body’s ability to combat germs and illness.
• It reduces the ability to fight environmental pathogens.
• It most commonly afflicts the sinuses or the lungs after inhaling fungal spores from the air.
• It can also happen on the skin after a burn, cut or other type of skin wound through which the fungus enters the skin.
• It can also affect the brain.
• People having co-morbities, variconazole therapy, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression by steroids or prolonged ICU stay can get predisposed to the fungal infection.
• Warning signs include headache, fever, coughing, blood vomits, breathlessness and altered mental status.
• It mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.

Types of Mucormycosis:

Type	Details
Rhinocerebral (Sinus and Brain) Mucormycosis	It is an infection in the sinuses that can spread to the brain. It is the most common in people with uncontrolled diabetes and in people who have had a kidney transplant.
Pulmonary (Lung) Mucormycosis	It is the most common type of mucormycosis in people with cancer and in people who have had an organ transplant or a stem cell transplant.
Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis	It is more common among young children than adults, especially premature and low birth weight infants less than 1 month of age, who have had antibiotics, surgery, or medications that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.
Cutaneous (Skin) Mucormycosis	It occurs after the fungi enter the body through a break in the skin (for example, after surgery, a burn, or other types of skin trauma). It is most common among people who do not have weakened immune systems.
Disseminated Mucormycosis	It occurs when the infection spreads through the bloodstream to affect another part of the body. The infection most commonly affects the brain, but also can affect other organs such as the spleen, heart, and skin.

Transmission Or Spread Of Black Fungus

• People can spread black fungus on coming in contact with the spores from the environment.
• In case of the lung or sinus infection the person can be infected after inhaling the spores from the air.
• A skin infection can occur after the fungus enters the skin through a scrape, burn, or other type of skin injury.
• They are more common in soil than in air, and in summer and fall than in winter or spring.
• These fungi are not harmful to most people but for people who have weakened immune systems, breathing in micromycetes spores can cause an infection
• Mucormycosis does not spread between people or between people and animals.

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Symptoms Of Black Fungus Or Mucormycosis

1. Pain and redness around eyes and/or nose
2. Fever
3. Headache
4. Coughing
5. Shortness of breath
6. Bloody vomits
7. Altered mental status.

Prevention From Black Fungus

• Cleaning and replacement of humidifiers (for those using Oxygen Concentrators)Sterile normal saline should be used in the humidifier Bottle.
• Changed daily Masks should be disinfected/washed daily.
• Those who are taking steroids should also keep checking their blood sugar levels.