Mucormycosis or Black Fungus. Part                                        – 2.

List of contents:

• Transmission of Mucormycosis.
• Diabetes and Mucormycosis.
• Covid-19 and Mucormycosis.
• Covid-19 + Diabetes + Steroid Dexamethasone = Death.
• Treatment.
• Prevention.

Transmission of Mucormycosis:

There are several theories about the transmi9ssion of Mucormycosis, many of them are groundless. Researchers believe that Mucormycosis can not be transmitted from person to person, and there is no need for isolation , unless they have ongoing infection of SARS-Covid-19.

The transmission of Mucormycosis occurs when we breath in our environment. Source of infection is our environment ,  from airborne spores produced by the fungi. In fact Mucorales fungi grow on moldy bread, decaying fruits and vegetables, crops  debris, soil, compost and animal excreta. These fungi have a high moisture requirement. They are found on common building materials, wood, painted surfaces and ceramic tiles. Two studies issued in 2014 and 2016 show that hospital linens from poorly managed laundries are also responsible for spreading the disease, We get infection through skin ,via burns, catheter insertion sites, needle stick injuries, insect bites and stings.

Animal dung is another source of  transmitting Mucormycosis. This disease is spreading rapidly in India. On May 26, 2021, there were 11,711 confirmed cases of Mucormycosis in India . Even before the pandemic, the spread of Mucormycosis may have been 70 times higher in India than the overall figures for the rest of the world .

India’s most population belong to “Hindu” religion.  Hindu believe that cow is one of their God. Majority of Hindu drink Cow’s urine before breakfast. There was a news on T.V showing Hindus rubbing Cow’s dung on their bodies, believing that this dung will save/protect them from Covid-19 , and other infections. It is unknown how many people were infected for Mucormycosis from that dung.

Diabetes and Mucormycosis:

A  person with weakened immune system is an easy victim of all kind of infections. Diabetes is a major cause to weaken immune system. A wound, or a cut on diabetic skin takes a long time to heal up, and it applies on fungi infection too. It is strongly recommended to keep your diabetes under control and should not exceed /decrease from recommended levels.

Covid-19 and Mucormycosis:

If you have a strong immune system, you will be safe from many infection including Covid-19. What a covid-19 vaccine do is to strengthen our immune system . Our body  immune system  identified and resist external infections/germs, to save us from them. A strong immune system will block fungi to enter in our body.

Covid-19 attacks on our immune system and destroy it , in such conditions fungi got their way to enter in our skin, and spread to other parts of our body.

Covid-19 + Diabetes + Steroid Dexamethasone = Death.

If a person is under covid-19 attack , and is diabetic too, he/she take Steroid Dexamethasone regularly, his/her immune system is definitely destroyed. (Steroid Dexamethasone is a medicine used by intensive care doctors to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood/hormone disorder, allergic reactions, skin diseases, eye problems, breathing problems, bowl disorder, cancer. It decrease our immune system response.) Such person probably has very little chances to live longer. Sorry to mention it but facts are there.

Source: Medical News Today

Treatment:

Mucormycosis is  a very serious infection and need to be treated with antifungal medicines. Usually doctors prescribe Amphotericin B, Posaconazole and Isavuconazole through a vein. Posaconazole  and Isavuconazole can be given by mouth . If symptoms remain, often a surgery is require to remove the infected tissues. If anyone is infected , he/she should consult a specialized doctor for treatment.

Prevention.

We get Mucormycosis through contact with fungal spores in our environment , it is quite difficult to avoid breathing in fungal spores, as the fungi that causes the Mucormycosis are every where. Unfortunately  up till now  there is no vaccine available to protect from Mucormycosis. Weakened  immune system is a basic cause of the disease. There are some precautionary steps to take which can reduce the risk of getting Mucormycosis. These steps do not provide a 100 % guarantee to protect from the disease. These steps are”

• Try not to go in the areas with  lot of dust.  Wear a N95 type  face mask  while entering  in such dusty area.
• Avoid direct contact with flood water and buildings damaged by water.
• Avoid to adapt activities which require close contact with soil or dust. Wear gloves while gardening or yard work.
• Wear gloves when handling materials such as soil, moss or manure.
• It is advised to clean skin injuries well with soap and water . It will reduce the risk of developing a skin infection. It is more necessary if your injury /skin cut is exposed to dust or soil.

Source: Medical News Today