Who's At Risk From Black Fungus?

Brut India

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria decodes the black fungus infection — or mucormycosis — which is creeping up on some Covid-19 patients.

Transcript

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.

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