Black fungus cases up among Covid-19 survivors in Maharashtra, Gujarat
Black fungus cases up among Covid-19 survivors in Maharashtra, Gujarat
Cases of mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus, are on the rise among the Covid-19 survivors, causing blindness or other serious issues, health officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat said on Saturday.
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UPDATED: May 9, 2021 07:51 IST
Black fungus can most commonly affects the sinuses or the lungs after inhaling fungal spores from the air (Reuters photo for representation)
Cases of mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection, are on the rise among COVID-19 survivors, causing blindness or other serious issues, health officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat said on Saturday.
Cases of mucormycosis, a fungal infection, are rising among Covid-19 survivors, causing blindness or serious illness and even death in some cases, health officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat said on Saturday. The cost of treatment for this disease is also a matter of concern, some doctors said.
Fungal infection cases rising in 2nd phase of pandemic, warn
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Send Cases of mucormycosis, a fungal infection, are rising among COVID-19 survivors, causing blindness or serious illness and even death in some cases, health officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat said on Saturday.
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Ahmedabad:
The cost of treatment for this disease is also a matter of concern, some doctors said.
Mathur Savani, chairman of Surat-based Kiran Super Multi-speciality Hospital, said mucormycosis patients are coming to his hospital from Surat district as well as other parts of Gujarat.
''Fifty mucormycosis patients are being treated at our hospital and 60 more are awaiting (treatment). They all came to our hospital in the last three weeks and have recovered from COVID-19 recently,'' Savani told PTI.
Mathur Savani, chairman of Surat-based Kiran Super Multi-speciality Hospital, said mucormycosis patients are coming to his hospital from Surat district as well as other parts of Gujarat.
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Doctors (Photo Credits: Pixabay)
Ahmedabad/Mumbai, May 8: Cases of mucormycosis, a fungal infection, are rising among COVID-19 survivors, causing blindness or serious illness and even death in some cases, health officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat said on Saturday. The cost of treatment for this disease is also a matter of concern, some doctors said.
Mathur Savani, chairman of Surat-based Kiran Super Multi-speciality Hospital, said mucormycosis patients are coming to his hospital from Surat district as well as other parts of Gujarat.
"Fifty mucormycosis patients are being treated at our hospital and 60 more are awaiting (treatment). They all came to our hospital in the last three weeks and have recovered from COVID-19 recently," Savani told PTI. Seven such patients lost eyesight, he said.
What is mucormycosis?
It is a type of serious fungal infection that occurs most often in people with weakened immunity from an illness or chronic health condition.
Niti Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul had said that mucormycosis is caused by a fungus named mucor, which is found on wet surfaces.
Why are Covid survivors vulnerable to the infection?
In pre-Covid times, the ‘black fungus’ mucormycosis used to be rare and seen mainly in immunocompromised people. However, after the pandemic, three factors have led to an exponential rise — Covid itself, diabetes and abuse of steroids that lower immunity.
Dr Lahane said the fungal disease is already known but the cases are increasing because of Covid-19 related complications, wherein the use of steroids elevates the sugar level in blood while some medicines result in suppression of immunity of patients.
Cases of mucormycosis, a fungal infection, are rising among COVID-19 survivors, causing blindness or serious illness and even death in some cases, health officials in Maharashtra and Gujarat said on Saturday.
Mucormycosis fungal infections up among Covid-19 survivors
Ahmedabad
Cases of mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection, are on the rise among Covid-19 survivors, causing blindness or other serious issues, health officials in Gujarat said on Saturday. Mathur Savani, chairman of Surat-based Kiran Super Multi-speciality Hospital, said mucormycosis patients are coming to his hospital from many parts of Gujarat. â50 mucormycosis patients are being treated and 60 more are awaiting treatment,â Savani told PTI. Seven such patients lost their eyesight, he said. The civil hospital in Surat has set up a facility for such patients, said in-charge Resident Medical Officer Dr Ketan Naik. In AhmÂedabad, over 5 mucorÂmyÂcosis patients are being opeÂrated upon daily at the Asarva civil hospital, a senior doctor said.