Black fungus 18 signs of infection

Black fungus may start with an infection in the sinuses, leading to swelling of the nerves leaving the brain, and may also cause blood clots to block blood vessels.

What are the symptoms of black fungus disease? What are its different types? What are the treatment options? What is the expected course of the infected cases? The answers and more are in this report.

Black fungus, also known as mucormycosis, is a fungal infection that affects the sinuses, brain, or lungs, and occurs in some people with weakened immune systems.

The reasons

Black fungus is caused by different types of fungi that are often found in decaying organic matter. These include spoiled bread, fruits and vegetables, as well as soil and compost piles. Most people come into contact with these fungi at some time.

However, people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get black fungus. These include people with one of the following conditions:

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

burns

Diabetes (when blood sugar is not under control)

Leukemia and lymphoma

Long-term use of steroids

Metabolic acidosis

Malnutrition

Use of some medicines

Black fungus may include:

An infection in the sinuses and the brain called a rhinocerebral infection. It may start with an infection in the sinuses, then lead to swelling of the nerves that exit the brain, and it may also cause blood clots to block the blood vessels to the brain.

Lung infection, called pulmonary mucormycosis. Pneumonia gets worse quickly and may spread to the chest cavity, heart, and brain.

Other parts of the body, such as mycosis of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa, skin and kidneys.

Symptoms

Symptoms of rhinocerebral black fungus include:

Puffiness and protrusion of the eyes

Dark crusts in the nasal cavities

Fever

headache

mental state change

Redness of the skin over the sinuses

Sinus pain or congestion

Symptoms of pulmonary black fungus include:

Cough

Sometimes coughing up blood

Fever

shortness of breath

Symptoms of gastrointestinal black fungus include:

Stomach ache

blood in stool

Diarrhea

vomiting blood

Symptoms of black fungus in the kidneys (kidney) include:

Fever

Pain in the upper abdomen or back

Symptoms of the black skin fungus include a single, sometimes painful, hardened area, and its center may be black.

treatment

According to the US National Library of Medicine, surgery must be performed immediately to remove all dead and infected tissue. Surgery can lead to disfigurement; It may involve removing the palate, parts of the nose, or parts of the eye. But without this surgery, the chances of survival are greatly reduced.

An antifungal medication is also given, usually amphotericin B intravenously. After the infection is controlled, the patient may be switched to a different medication such as posaconazole or isavuconazole.

If a person has diabetes, it is important that the blood sugar level reaches a normal range.

What is the disease prognosis? (The expected course of the infected cases)

Black fungus patients have a very high mortality rate, even when having surgery, and the risk of death depends on the affected area of ​​the body and the patient's general health.

Possible complications

Blindness (if the optic nerve is affected)

Thrombosis or blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or lung

nerve damage

death

Egypt allocates rooms to isolate black fungus patients

Yesterday, Wednesday, the Egyptian Ministry of Health announced the allocation of rooms to isolate black fungus sufferers, for the first time in the country.

This came according to a televised statement by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health in Matrouh Governorate (west), Muhammad Ali, on Wednesday evening, in conjunction with the outbreak of a state of anxiety and controversy over the disease among the popular circles.

Although Egypt has not officially announced the presence of black fungus cases, news circulates that two cases of the disease were diagnosed, and that it was the cause of the death of the famous Egyptian artist Samir Ghanem, on May 20.

Muhammad Ali stated to the "Echo of the Country" channel, that we received instructions from the Ministry of Health to allocate isolation rooms for black fungus sufferers, as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the emergence of infections with the disease.

He added that the black fungus disease appears with reduced immunity, the use of antibiotics and the use of cortisone in large quantities, but no infections with the black fungus have been detected in Egypt since the beginning of the Corona virus.

Ali explained that the Ministry of Health is scheduled to announce a treatment protocol to deal with black fungus sufferers, in the event that infections of the disease appear in the country.

A week ago, Hossam - the brother of the late Egyptian artist Samir Ghanem - announced in televised statements that the cause of his brother's death was infection with the black fungus, which sparked controversy and concern in the country.

And last Saturday, Ministry of Health spokesman Khaled Mujahid said - in televised statements - that there is no need for panic, panic and intimidation from the black fungus disease, in response to the statement of the head of the Scientific Committee to Combat Corona Virus, Hossam Hosni, that he had diagnosed two cases of this disease.

Corona pandemic

Experts said that the increased use of certain drugs in the Covid-19 pandemic to suppress the immune system may be the reason for the increase in cases of black fungus.

Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the death rate from black fungus is 54%, and this percentage may vary depending on the condition of the patients and the affected organ.

Is black fungus contagious?

This disease is not contagious, which means that it cannot spread through contact with each other or with animals, but it is spread through fungal spores circulating in the air or in the environment, and it is almost impossible to avoid.

Head of Narayana Netralaya Specialty Eye Hospital, K. Bojang Shetty "Bacteria and fungi are already in our bodies, but the body's immune system blocks them."

"When the immune system collapses due to cancer and diabetes treatments, or the use of steroids, these microorganisms gain the upper hand and multiply."

Does the use of oxygen cylinders or unsterile respirators cause the spread of black fungus?

It's hard to say. Experts say unsanitary conditions can increase the risk of infection spreading.

"There is a lot of pollution in the tubes used for oxygen, the cylinders that are being used and the humidifiers that are being used," says Nishant Kumar, an ophthalmologist at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai. However, opinions are divided on this issue.

Says S. NS. "We need epidemiological studies to assess the reasons for the increase in these cases now," Kalantri, a research doctor at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Maharashtra state.

Why black fungus and not any other fungal infection?

COVID-19 has been linked to a large number of bacteria and fungi, but experts say the second wave of COVID-19 in India has created an ideal environment for the black fungus.

According to Reuters, researchers wrote in the journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews that low oxygen, diabetes, high iron levels, and immune deficiency, and a combination of several other factors, including long period of hospital stay on ventilators; Create an ideal environment for black fungus.