Why are Covid-19 patients being affected by Black, White, and Yellow fungus infection?
What is Fungus?
Fungi or Fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from the other eukaryotic kingdoms, those being Plantae, Animalia, Protozoa, and Chromista.
Unique features:
• Some species grow as unicellular yeasts that reproduce by budding or fission. Dimorphic fungi can switch between a yeast phase and a hyphal phase in response to environmental conditions.
• The fungal cell wall is composed of glucans and chitin; while glucans are also found in plants and chitin in the exoskeleton of arthropods, fungi are the only organisms that combine these two structural molecules in their cell wall. Unlike those of plants and oomycetes, fungal cell walls do not contain cellulose.
Mycology:
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the systematic study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source of medicine, food, and psychotropic substances consumed for religious purposes, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection. The field of phytopathology, the study of plant diseases, is closely related because many plant pathogens are fungi.
Mucormycosis: Why are Covid-19 patients being affected by black fungus infection?
Mucormycosis can occur any time after COVID-19 infection, either during the hospital stay or several days to a couple of weeks after discharge.
With the world reeling under the throes of a submicroscopic, enigmatically animated infectious particle, the novel coronavirus, we now have to contend with another hitherto not so common opportunistic foe the so-called ‘Black fungus’ infection, academically christened mucormycosis,” said Dr. Dhananjaya I Bhat, senior consultant, neurosurgery, Aster RV Hospital.
What types of infection do these fungi cause?
Some common types of a fungal infection include:
Skin infections like ringworm.
Nail infections.
Deeper cutaneous infections following trauma.
Breach in the skin with subsequent fungal implantation and growth.
Sinus infections and deep lung infections.
What is ROCM or Black fungus infection?
Mucormycosis (previously known as Zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds known as micromycetes. Rhino-orbital-cerebral-mucormycosis (ROCM) is caused by molds of the order Mucorales. In this, there are a few subgroups like Rhizopus, Mucor, Rhizomucor which are most commonly involved in this infection. These fungi are angioinvasive i.e, they invade the surrounding blood vessels and destroy them resulting in tissue necrosis and death. These molds live throughout the environment and their spores are present in the air. They get lodged in the nasal cavity and adjoining sinuses.
On reaching a favourable milieu they ensconce themselves within the tissue. The spores germinate, hyphae (filamentous processes) outgrow and release destructive juices which digest the host tissue and provide nutrition to the rapidly growing fungi. As they grow in the nasal cavity they relentlessly destroy the surrounding host tissue. The bones in the nasal cavity and sinuses are destroyed. These include the hard palate, the orbital bones, and the skull base bones. Black masses may be seen in the nasal cavity and oral cavity. If it destroys the orbit and enters the eye socket it may cause bulging of the eyes, pain, frozen eye movements, and blindness. Once it enters the cranial cavity by breaching the skull base it blocks major arteries and venous lakes resulting in major life-threatening brain strokes and bleeds.
Is it contagious?
The disease is not contagious and doesn’t spread from one person to another.
Why is it occurring in COVID 19 patients?
Mucormycosis can occur any time after COVID-19 infection, either during the hospital stay or several days to a couple of weeks after discharge.
“The COVID-19 causes favourable alteration in the internal milieu of the host for the fungus and the medical treatment given, unwittingly also abets fungal growth. COVID-19 damages the airway mucosa and blood vessels. It also causes an increase in the serum iron which is very important for the fungus to grow. Medications like steroids increase blood sugar. Broad-spectrum antibiotics not only wipe out the potentially pathogenic bacteria but also the protective commensals. Antifungals like Voriconazole inhibit Aspergillosis but Mucor remains unscathed and thrives due to lack of competition. Long-term ventilation reduces immunity and there are speculations of the fungus being transmitted by the humidifier water being given along with oxygen. All the above make for a perfect recipe for mucormycosis infection.
White fungus:
White fungus attacks people who are immunocompromised, i.e. they have low immunity. Unsanitary environments containing the moulds make people prone to catching this fungal infection. The disease is not contagious but another immunocompromised person can be at risk, since these can be inhaled by a patient. Even diabetics, people suffering from cancer and those on long steroids treatment are more at risk of catching white fungus.
Symptoms of white fungus:
White fungus symptoms are quite similar to COVID symptoms. The lungs can be involved and may lead to chest pain, cough and breathlessness. It can also cause headaches, pains, infections or even cause swelling.
Yellow fungus cases reported in UP:
There's been an unprecedented rise in black fungus cases and most recently, white fungus cases, both caused by the spread of environmental moulds and unsanitary conditions. To date, there have been over 8000 cases reported in India. However, as is being witnessed right now, there's now a new lurking danger, much scarier than black or white fungus- yellow fungus infection.
What is yellow fungus?
Experts suggest that yellow fungus infection, unlike the two other infections, could be much scarier because of the manner in which it affects the body's internal organs.
Unlike the two other infections, yellow fungus starts off internally, causes pus leakage, slow healing of wounds, and, in serious cases, can also cause devastating symptoms such as organ failure and acute necrosis. Therefore, it remains critical that patients seek help for their infection as soon as they start observing symptoms.
The fungal infection starts to spread internally and weighs heavily on vital organs, leaving you without energy. This can result in symptoms like acute lethargy, fatigue ,weight loss and exhaustion.
Treatment:
Yellow or other fungal infections being talked of right now aren't exactly new or rare. Currently, Amphotericin B injection, which is an antifungal medicine is the only known treatment therapy for fighting the infection.
This week India Reported a drop down in COVID Cases. Let’s Pray for the better situation🙏
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