AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria decodes the black fungus infection — or mucormycosis — which is creeping up on some Covid-19 patients.
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00:00Steroids, which patients are taking, who have diabetes and also COVID, if these three things are combined,
00:07then the chances of fungal infection increases.
00:14Leukomycosis is a fungal infection.
00:17The spores of this fungus are found in the soil, in the air, to some extent it is also found in food.
00:26But this fungus has low virulence, usually it does not cause infection.
00:30And if we talk about before COVID, then also this fungal infection was seen,
00:36but its incidence was very low and it was a rare infection.
00:40But due to COVID and due to COVID treatment, its cases are now coming up a lot.
00:49This disease either affects the face, which we call Rhinorbital Cerebral Myocarditis.
00:55Due to which infection can spread in the nose, in the orbit of the eye or in the brain.
01:02Due to which people's vision can also go, the light of the eye can also go.
01:07And to some extent, there can also be an infection in the brain.
01:10Along with this, it can also spread in the lungs, which we call Pulmonary Myocarditis.
01:14Both have some symptoms, like if there is Rhinorbital Cerebral Myocarditis,
01:20then there can be a headache, there can be a pain in the head, the nose can be blocked,
01:24secretions can come from the nose, which are of green color or blood can come from the nose.
01:29Or there can be less sensation in the face, there can be swelling on one side of the face
01:35or there can be discoloration in the skin.
01:37If it is in the lungs, then there can be fever, there can be pain in the chest,
01:41there can be cough, there can be blood in the cough.
01:44One is that due to the COVID infection, it is also a risk factor.
01:52This was also seen in the first wave.
01:54And if we talk about 2003 SARS, then also if we look at the data,
01:59then also fungal infection was reported to some extent.
02:03But this time when we are seeing it more, there are two more reasons for that.
02:08One reason is that there are many such patients who have diabetes,
02:12have diabetes, have diabetes, and if they are not controlled,
02:16then there are more chances of fungal infection in them.
02:19And the third very important reason is misuse of steroids.
02:22The patients who are taking steroids, who have diabetes and also have COVID,
02:27if all these three things are combined, then the chances of fungal infection increase.
02:36First of all, we will have to reduce the misuse of steroids.
02:40As I said earlier, the patients who have mild disease,
02:44who do not need oxygen and who have COVID infection in the early stage,
02:48there is more harm than good in giving steroids.
02:52That is why if someone has COVID, mild infection, fever,
02:56saturation is maintained, cough, but there is no other symptom that oxygen is decreasing,
03:03then steroids should not be given because there can be chances of fungal infection in the future.
03:10Especially if that person also has diabetes.
03:13The second is diabetes or sugar control.
03:15That is very important because people who do not have sugar control,
03:19this fungal infection is found more in them.
03:21So, it is very important that people who have diabetes or who are taking steroids,
03:26they should check their sugar because many times no one knows that I have diabetes.
03:32If you take steroids, your sugar will reach 300-400.
03:35So, monitor your sugar.
03:37The third thing is to wear a mask.
03:39As I said, these are spores, there can be fungus in the air.
03:44It is important to wear a mask, especially if you are going to a construction site
03:49where the chances of fungus infection can be high.