Difference Between Black White And Yellow Fungus UPSC – There Are Three Main Fungus Which Reported In Covid Patients Which Are The Black Fungus, White Fungus And Yellow Fungus . Here We Are Sharing Main Difference Between All These Three Fungus, Causes , Symptoms And Treatment. You Can Check Full Differences List Given Below . Difference Between Black White And Yellow Fungus UPSC Prelims And Mains Exam.
Difference Between Black White And Yellow Fungus UPSC
Yellow FungusÂ
What is Yellow Fungus?
Yellow Fungus, dangerous than white or black fungus, is another fungal infection that has been attributed to COVID-19.
Health experts say it is a fatal infection.
Yellow Fungus is commonly found in reptiles.
The first case of Yellow Fungus in humans was reported in Ghaziabad in a 45-year-old man who had recovered from COVID-19.
The primary treatment is the anti-fungal infection Amphotericin-B.
Health experts state that healing Yellow Fungus takes longer compared to Black or White Fungus.
White Fungus : Causes, Treatment, Symptoms
What is White Fungus Or Candidiasis ?
White Fungus or Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida.
Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems.
Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain).
The most common species that causes infection is Candida albicans.
White fungus infection can be caused due to low immunity, or if people come in contact with things that contain these moulds.
Diabetes patients, cancer patients, and those who are taking steroids for a long period of time are more at risk of getting infected.
White Fungus is affecting those coronavirus patients who are on oxygen support.
It is directly affecting the lungs of these patients.
It is the main reason of Leucorrhoea in women – flow of a whitish, yellowish, or greenish discharge from the vagina.
Like the black fungus, white fungus is also more likely to afflict people with compromised immune systems, pre-existing medical conditions, AIDS, a recent kidney transplant or diabetes.
What Are The Symptoms White Fungus ?
Cough
Fever
Diarrhea
Dark spots on lungs, reduced oxygen level
Note: The symptoms of ‘white fungus’ are similar to those of COVID and the infection can be diagnosed through CT-scan or X-ray.
Who is more at risk of White Fungus infection?
Both White and Black fungus prey on people with low immunity.
Along with this, people suffering from diabetes, cancer, critical illness or a patient admitted in ICU are more prone to black fungus.
At the same time, the white fungus attacks people with comorbidities.
People with cancer, excess blood sugar are more prone to white fungus.
How to avoid black and white fungus infection?
The first one has to avoid getting Covid infection.
Therefore it is important to strengthen the immunity.
Do not overuse steroids during covid treatment.
Steroids should be given only when the oxygen levels go down and pneumonia occurs.
When the condition is stable, reduce the number of steroids, so that there is no problem of blood sugar fluctuation.
White and black fungus infections can be avoided in these ways.
Diagnosis and Treatment Of White Fungus
CT scans or X-Rays can reveal the condition.
Patients with the white fungus are currently being treated with known anti-fungal medication.
Black Fungus : Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment
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.
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.
Symptoms Of Black Fungus Or Mucormycosis
Pain and redness around eyes and/or nose
Fever
Headache
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Bloody vomits
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.