New Delhi: Amid studies of yellow, white and black fungus cases in India, AIIMS Delhi Director Dr Randeep Guleria on Monday (May 24, 2021) requested individuals to establish Mucormycosis by its name and not by its color.
Dr Guleria, throughout a media briefing, mentioned that labelling the identical fungus with names of various colors can create confusion.
“It is better not to use the term black fungus while talking of mucormycosis, as it leads to a lot of avoidable confusion,” he mentioned.
“Black fungus is another family. This term got associated with mucormycosis due to the presence of black dots among the culture of white fungal colonies. In general, there are various types of fungal infections such as candida, aspergillosis, cryptococcus, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis. Mucormycosis, candida and aspergillosis are the ones observed more in those with low immunity,” Dr Guleria said.
He mentioned that Mucormycosis is likely one of the basic fungal infections being seen in recovering or recovered COVID-19 sufferers.
“The number of cases being reported is increasing, but it is not a communicable disease, meaning it does not spread from one person to another, like COVID-19 does,” Dr Guleria added.
He additionally commented on the prevalence of those infections and mentioned, “Candida fungal infection can manifest with symptoms such as white patches in the mouth, oral cavities and tongue. It can infect private parts and can also be found in the blood (in which case it can become serious). Aspergillosis, which is relatively not common, affects and invades the lungs by creating cavities in the lungs. What is observed in COVID-19 is mostly mucormycosis, aspergillosis is observed occasionally, and Candida in some people.”
The AIIMS Delhi director mentioned that 90%-95% of sufferers getting contaminated with Mucormycosis are discovered to have been both diabetic and/or taking steroids.
“This infection is seen very rarely in those who are neither diabetic nor taking steroids,” he mentioned.
He added, “Some warning signs for mucormycosis such as headache, rusting or bleeding from nose, swelling below the eye, lowering of facial sensation, if observed in high-risk patients or those taking steroids, need to be informed to doctors so that early diagnosis and treatment can be given.”
Talking concerning the impact of the pandemic on kids and younger individuals, Dr Randeep Guleria famous that kids suffered collateral injury attributable to psychological stress, smartphone dependancy and training challenges amid the continuing pandemic.
He added that there isn’t a indication as of now that kids will probably be severely affected within the third wave of COVID-19.
Labeling the identical fungus with names of various colours can create confusion.#Mucormycosis is not a communicable illness, not like #COVID19. 90-95% of sufferers getting contaminated are discovered to have been both diabetic and/or taking steroids
– Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS pic.twitter.com/hKpexte7A9
— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 24, 2021
Earlier on Monday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan mentioned that thus far, 5,424 cases of Mucormycosis have been reported in 18 states and UTs.
“Out of 5,424 cases, 4,556 patients have a history of COVID-19 infection. 55% of the patients had diabetes,” he added.
