Just when 2020 was about to end and people were looking towards positive 2021, a disease came into news- MUCORMYCOSIS also known as THE BLACK FUNGUS INFECTION.
Lets see What is severity of this fungus? if this a new disease? and Is this a potential next pandemic?
MUCORMYCOSIS (also known as ZYGOMYCOSIS or GLOMERULOMYCETES) is a fungal infection.
This fungus is an opportunistic fungus and is generally present as saprophyte in our surrounding environment in soil or bread.
This is not a new disease but rather an old one. It is one the common causes of fungal infection in immuno-compromised individuals.
It is currently famous as BLACK FUNGAL INFECTION because the lesion presents as a black mass inside the nose.
Make sure to share this if you like this post!
What is the CAUSE OF MUCORMYCOSIS?
MUCORMYCOSIS is caused by any of the following fungus.
- RHIZOPUS
- MUCOR
- ABSIDIA
- RHIZOMUCOR
WAY OF INFECTION
As discussed, this fungus is present in soil and surroundings, so accordingly there can be multiple ways of entry for this fungus
- inhalation
- injury
- fungus present in soil may enter through trauma
Keep in mind -
MUCORMYCOSIS IS NOT CONTAGIOUS.
it can not spread from person to person
SYMPTOMS OF MUCORMYCOSIS
MUCORMYCOSIS mostly presents as - RHINO-OCULO-CEREBRAL disease.
This BLACK FUNGAL INFECTION has the capacity to spread to other organs through blood vesels.
It will start invading your blood vessels and lead to endothelial damage and thrombosis and soon involve other organs.
And as more organs get involved, its severity increase and chances of survival decreases.
Symptoms depend on the organ or involvement. This usually start from nose
- NOSE
- nasal congestion
- black colour collection
- ORBITAL CELLULITIS
- redness and swelling surrounding eyes
- this may also cause one sided face swelling
- LUNGS
- BRAIN
- delirium
- seizures (fits/convulsions)
- coma
- SKIN
- INTESTINES
- abdominal pain
- vomiting
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- SPLEEN
WHO ARE AT THE RISK OF MUCORMYCOSIS ?
NOT EVERYONE CAN SUFFER FROM BLACK FUNGAL INFECTION.
This is an opportunitic infection meaning it will cause disease only if your immunity is low.
The normal human immunity is enough to tackle this fungus. As discussed earlier, this is present in our surrounding as an environmental saprophyte. So there are chances many of us might have got the fungus but there were no symptoms, thanks to your immunity!!!
Thus MUCORMYCOSIS occurs only in those who have low immunity.
These include patients with-
- DIABETES MELLITUS
- RENAL DISEASES
- TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
- those who have recieved organ transplant
- STEROID USERS
- high dose steroids for medical or non-medical reasons
- long time users
- NEUTROPENIA
- decreases neutrophils in blood
- COVID
- especially in immunocompromised state
- DISEASES DECREASING IMMUNITY
- certain blood cancers.
- cancer treatment - radiotherapy or chemotherapy
- BURNS patient
- IRON THERAPY
- patients who are on iron therapy as this fungus get attracted to excess iron.
- This is for those who consume excess of iron due to medical reasons and does not mean you should stop consuming iron.
TREATMENT OF MUCORMYCOSIS
This disease is fought on medical and surgical fronts depending on the symptoms and case presentation.
It requires ANTIFUNGALS, SURGICAL DEBRIDMENT and controlling the leading factor.
SEVERITY OF MUCORMYCOSIS
MUCORMYCOSIS is an emergency situation. It is mostly neglected in the starting stages.
As discussed earlier, mucormycosis can spread through blood vessels, and when this fungus starts to invade vessels, not much time is left with the patient!!
As more organs get involved, its severity increase and chances of survival decreases.
This infection has a HIGH DEATH RATE (50%). Death rate is more in people with very low immunity and patients in which this disease has spread to multiple organs (>90% death rate). If not disseminated, death rate is <10%.
If untreated, the chances of survival are less than 5%.
Medicines and surgery do help a lot in decreasing death rate. But don't show effect in highly disseminated cases or in patients with very low immnunity.
HOW CAN WE PREVENT FROM MUCORMYCOSIS?
- keep your immunity high
- keep your diabetes in control
- use mask to prevent inhalation of fungus
For people with low immunity-
That's all for this topic !!
Share if you found this informative!
SUBSCRIBE for upcoming myths to be busted.
If you have any myth or doubt, and want a proper explaination for that, feel free to mention it in the comment section below !
THANKS FOR READING !
STAY SAFE !
Comments
Post a Comment
The myths are busted purely on basis of scientific research papers!
SUBSCRIBE for regular updates.
Mention your myths below for their scietific facts.