BLACK FUNGAL INFECTION

 

    Mucormycosis or zygomycosis (old name) is basically the black fungus that badly affects people in India during the Covid-19 breakdown. What is this black fungus or mucormycosis?

About:

    A group of molds known as mucormycetes is the source of the deadly but uncommon fungal infection known as mucormycosis (also known as zygomycosis). These fungi are present everywhere in the environment. They are found in soil and in organic waste that has decomposed, such as rotten wood, compost piles, or leaves.

By coming into contact with environmental fungal spores, people get mucormycosis. For instance, inhaling spores can lead to infections in the sinuses or lungs. People with health issues or those who take medications that reduce the body's ability to fight infection and illness are more likely to develop certain kinds of mucormycosis.

Types of mucormycosis:

•          An infection of the sinuses that can extend to the brain is called rhino cerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis. People with uncontrolled diabetes and kidney transplant recipients experience this most frequently. 4–5
•         The most prevalent form of mucormycosis in cancer patients, transplant recipients, and stem cell recipients is pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis.
•          Young children are more likely than adults to develop gastrointestinal mucormycosis. Infants under one month old who were born prematurely or with low birth weight are at risk if they underwent surgery, received antibiotics, or take other treatments that weaken the immune system. 6-7
•         After the fungus enters the body through a crack in the skin, cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis develops. After a burn, scrape, cut, surgery, or other kind of skin trauma, this kind of infection may develop. When a person's immune system is healthy, this type of mucormycosis is the most prevalent.
•          When the infection spreads to another area of the body through the bloodstream, it is known as diffused mucormycosis. Although the illness most frequently affects the brain, it can also damage the spleen, heart, and skin.

BLACK FUNGUS SYMPTOMS:

rhinocerebral mucormycosis symptoms include:

•          Face edema on one side
•          Headache
•          Sinusitis or nasal congestion
•          Immediately worsening black lesions on the bridge of the nose or the upper interior of the mouth
•          Fever

Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis signs and symptoms include:

•          Chest discomfort
•          Fever
•          Cough
•          Breathing difficulty

Blisters or ulcers may appear as a result of cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis, and the affected region may turn black. Pain, warmth, extreme redness, or swelling near a cut are further signs.

• Gastrointestinal mucormycosis signs and symptoms include:
• Stomach ache
• Vomiting and nauseous
• Bleeding from the gut

It might be challenging to determine which symptoms are caused by mucormycosis because diffused mucormycosis generally affects persons who are already ill from other medical illnesses. Patients who have a disseminated infection in the brain may experience changes in their mental state or go into a coma.

WHO IS AT RISK?

    Mucormycosis is uncommon, however, it tends to affect people more frequently who are ill or take medications that impair the immune system's capacity to fight infection. 1-3 People with diabetes, especially those with diabetic ketoacidosis, cancer, organ transplants, stem cell transplants, neutropenia, long-term corticosteroid usage, injection drug use, hemochromatosis, and other conditions are more susceptible to developing mucormycosis. Surgical burn or wound-related skin damage, Low birth weight, and prematurity (for neonatal gastrointestinal mucormycosis).

SPREAD:

    Mucormycosis is contracted by coming into touch with environmental fungus spores. For instance, inhaling the spores from the air can lead to the infection's lung or sinus forms. After the fungus enters the skin through a scrape, burn, or other sort of skin damage, a skin infection may develop.

Both human-to-human and human-to-animal transmission of mucormycosis is impossible.

PREVENTION:

    Because the fungi that cause mucormycosis are widespread in the environment, it is challenging to prevent breathing in fungal spores. Mucormycosis cannot be prevented by vaccination. There may be some measures to reduce the risk of acquiring mucormycosis for those with compromised immune systems.

•         Take environmental protection measures. It's crucial to remember that while these activities are advised, there is no evidence that they can stop mucormycosis from occurring.
•          Avoid going to dusty places, such as construction or excavation sites. If you can't avoid them, protect your face while you're there by using an N95 respirator (a form of face mask). For additional details about respirators, click here.
•          After hurricanes and other natural catastrophes, stay away from flooding water and buildings that have been water-damaged. 6
•          Avoid tasks like gardening or yardwork that require close contact with soil or dust. If it's not feasible
•          When engaging in outside activities like gardening, yard maintenance, or visiting wooded regions, wear shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
•          When working with substances like soil, moss, or manure, gloves should be worn.
•          Clean skin injuries thoroughly with soap and water, especially if they have been exposed to soil or dust, to lessen the likelihood that they will get infected.

Your doctor may recommend medication to prevent mucormycosis and other mold infections if you are at a high risk of having it (for instance, if you've had an organ transplant or stem cell transplant). The most at-risk transplant recipients and the best ways to avoid fungal infections are currently being discovered by medical professionals and researchers.

DIAGNOSIS:

    When diagnosing mucormycosis, medical professionals take into account your medical history, symptoms, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. A sample of fluid from your respiratory system may be taken by medical professionals if they have reason to believe you have mucormycosis in your sinuses or lungs. Your doctor may do a tissue biopsy, in which a small sample of the diseased tissue is examined under a microscope or in a fungal culture in a lab to check for signs of mucormycosis. Depending on where the infection is thought to be, you could also require imaging tests like a CT scan of your lungs, sinuses, or other parts of your body.

BLACK FUNGUS TREATMENT:

    A prescription antifungal drug, typically amphotericin B, posaconazole, or isavuconazole, is required to treat the dangerous infection known as mucormycosis. Amphotericin B, posaconazole, and isavuconazole are administered intravenously or orally, respectively (posaconazole, isavuconazole). The fungi that cause mucormycosis are resistant to other medications like fluconazole, voriconazole, and echinocandins. Surgery is frequently necessary for mucormycosis to remove the affected tissue.