What is Mucormycosis (Black Fungus)? All You Need to Know

With India already battling the wrath of the second wave of coronavirus, doctors have recently started witnessing the prominent rise of a new type of infectious disease known as Black Fungus. Although quite rare, the condition is predominantly affecting Covid-19 recovering patients, especially the ones on steroid medications.

The number of cases started increasing in a few states in India, including Telangana and Rajasthan where it has been declared an epidemic. The disease or the infection generally manifests in the skin and then goes on to affect the brain and lungs of the patient, sometimes resulting in fatalities too.

Given that the concept of this infection and the disease, in general, is pretty new for many people, we thought we’d give you a quick rundown of everything there is to know about it.

Table of Contents

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye

1. What is Mucormycosis aka Black Fungus?
2. Symptoms of Black Fungus
3. Risk Factors of Black Fungus
4. Can I get Black Fungus after Recovering from Covid-19?
5. Treatment of Mucormycosis aka Black Fungus in India
6. How to Keep Yourself Safe from Black Fungus?

Take Away

1. What is Mucormycosis aka Black Fungus?

Mucormycosis aka Black Fungus is a rare but severe type of fungal infection that is infested by a group of moulds called Mucormycetes. These organisms are found in nature, especially in animal dung, soil, and leaves.

The fungal colonies can normally enter into the body via breathing, through the skin, or any open wounds or cuts in the body. Generally, the severity of the infection is dependent on the type of Mucormycetes colony that has infested in the body of the patient. These are categorized into four primary types –

• Rhinocerebral – affecting the sinus and brain
• Pulmonary – affecting the lung
• Gastrointestinal – affecting the GI tract
• Cutaneous – affecting the skin

The sudden peak in the levels of Black fungus infection came about as a side-effect from the Covid-19 infection in the patients. Most of the patients with uncontrolled diabetes are also at risk of developing this infection.

However, as the disease has become more prominent in India, doctors and researchers have also found strains of two other types of fungal infections, including the White and Yellow fungus.

White fungus – This fungal infection is relayed via the infestation of Candida albicans that is found in laboratories as white or creamy depositions on the samples of agar. Prolonged ICU stays due to Covid-19 is considered to be a likely reason behind the development of white fungus infection in patients.

Yellow fungus – Yellow fungus doesn’t have much scientific significance, mainly because it’s a coined termed that depicts the appearance of pus that is excreted out of a pus-filled bacterial infection. There aren’t many conclusive studies surrounding this type of possible fungal infection.

Although none of the black, white or yellow fungus diseases are communicable, people who are immune-compromised or have chronic diseases are more at risk of developing this infection. You are at heightened risks of developing this infection if you have:

• Diabetes
• Cancer
• HIV
• Skin Injury
• Surgery
• Recovering from Covid-19

2. Symptoms of Black Fungus

As we mentioned before, there are four predominant types of mucormycetes that cause the infection. The symptoms are evident depending on the type of fungal colony that has infected the patient.

For our reader’s convenience, we have segregated the symptoms based on the type:

Although the symptoms are treatable, some patients report not feeling anything amiss until the disease has spread to a severe form. If the fungal infection can’t be treated with topical or oral medications, the doctor suggests undergoing surgery to remove the infected part in the body.

3. Risk Factors of Black Fungus

Black fungus is predominantly targeting or attacking patients who have a weakened immune system. It could be because of an underlying medical condition or even due to medications and immunosuppressants that some people consume.

Some of the common risk factors of Black Fungus include:

• Uncontrolled blood sugar levels in diabetes patients
• Post-Covid patients who have spent ample of time in the hospital
• Patients with a weakened immune system
• People who have recently undergone a transplant surgery
• Patients who are on immunosuppressants
• Patients who have been admitted to the hospital and stayed on ventilation for extended periods

4. Can I get Black Fungus after Recovering from Covid-19?

The link between Black fungus and Covid-19 was established primarily when there was a rise in the number of reported cases of fungal infection in recovered or recovering Covid-19 patients.

Leading health and medical professionals like Dr. Arvinder Singh Soin, are reporting that although the prevalence of black fungus was relatively low before the pandemic, things have picked up drastically after the rise in Covid-19 cases in India.

Since Covid-19 infection directly affects the immune system of a patient, contracting the black fungus infection on top of that is resulting in fatalities or severe damage to the body’s functions. This is a reason why recovering patients from Covid-19 are at a heightened risk of contracting the infection.

Reports have suggested that the steroid treatment in Covid-19 patients is also a predominant connection between both the infections. Steroids suppress the immune system, resulting in heightened risks of black fungus infection in the patient.

Even patients that are spending over two weeks in the hospital, especially on oxygen support and ventilation report drying of the nasal cavity, which is another contributing factor to the development and propagation of the fungal infection.

5. Treatment of Mucormycosis aka Black Fungus in India

The treatment of black fungus in India is dependent on the symptoms the patient is experiencing. If the symptoms are diagnosed in the early stages, simple fungal treatments are enough to treat and stop the spread of the infection.

However, severe cases require thorough interventions.

Like, for black fungus on the skin, the doctors are generally initiating the treatment with topical and oral fungal treatments to see its effectiveness. In case the treatments don’t work, the infected area on the skin is surgically removed to prevent further spread.

Patients who have contracted the fungal infection are suggested to control their diabetes, reduce or exterminate the consumption of steroids and discontinue the immunosuppressants until they are completely recovered.

One of the most common types of treatments used for treating Black Fungus in India involves the infusion of Normal Saline along with the administration of amphotericin B and antifungal therapy for up to 6 weeks straight. However, these should only be done under a doctor’s supervision.

Surgical interventions

In patients with severe symptoms of the disease, including thrombosis and necrosis, surgical interventions are required. Some patients with black fungus in the eyes also have to undergo surgery to potentially prevent the further spread of the infection from the eyes.

Several patients on the brink of a fatality due to the infection also have to lose their upper jaw or eye after the surgery. Although terrifying, the patients need to come to terms with their fate, especially when it is dangling between a life and death situation.

Patients can consider prosthetic reconstruction at a later date to restore the functions of their lost body parts and to regain their self-confidence as well.

Costs Associated with the Treatment

The overall costs for the treatment of black fungus are subjective. Not only does it depend on the severity of the infection, but it is also dependent on the comorbidities that the patient is struggling with. Only your doctor and the consulting hospital will be able to give you an accurate quote about the charges and costs involved.

However, with the rapid advancements in the Indian medical infrastructure, it isn’t surprising that several patients are getting rapid and early diagnosis for effective treatment and potentially quicker recovery as well. So, if you are struggling with potential symptoms and want to get effective treatment, the Indian hospitals are an ideal place to be in.

6. How to Keep Yourself Safe from Black Fungus?

Although there has been a rampant increase in the levels of black fungus infections post the second wave of Covid-19 infections in India, you need to realize that the fungal infection isn’t communicable.

If you are a patient who falls under the risk category of contracting the Black fungus infection, we’d recommend you eliminate the risk factors first. Tackle your weaknesses to prevent getting the disease.

Some of the common modes of Mucormycosis prevention include:

• Manage your diabetes and other chronic and immune-compromising diseases
• Maintain optimal personal hygiene by washing your hands and face with soap and water
• Wear covered clothes and avoid coming in frequent contact with soil and other vectors of the black fungus disease
• Wear masks whenever in crowded or construction sites with dust overflowing around
• Monitor your health if you are on steroids or have been in the hospital on ventilation for Covid-19

Take Away

With so many foreign medical terminologies and the constant rise in different kinds of infections, it is common for people to get overwhelmed. However, you must educate yourself about these new diseases, practice caution, and lead a healthy lifestyle to keep your immune system in check.