Ways To Protect Yourself From Covid-Triggered Black Fungus – Health Minister Answers All FAQs

Dr Vardhan in a post shared on Twitter said mucormycosis is a fungal infection mainly affecting people with medical health problems that reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens.

(Representative Image/Getty)

New Delhi: With mucormycosis or black fungus being reported in a few Covid-19 patients during or post recovery, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday offered useful tips on how to detect, manage and curb the spread of the fungal infection.

Dr Vardhan in a post shared on Twitter said mucormycosis is a fungal infection mainly affecting people with medical health problems that reduces their ability to fight environmental pathogens.

“#Mucormycosis, commonly known as '#BlackFungus' has been observed in a number of #COVID19 patients recently. Awareness & early diagnosis can help curb the spread of the fungal infection. Here's how to detect & manage it #IndiaFightsCorona @MoHFW_INDIA,” he tweeted sharing his advice.

He shared tips on how does a patient get predisposed to mucormycosis:

• Co-morbidities – post transplant/malignancy
• Voriconazole therapy
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• Immunosupression by steroids
• Prolonged ICU stay

The Health Minister threw light on the symptoms, which include headache, pain/redness around eyes/nose, fever, coughing, shortness of breath, bloody vomits and altered mental status while urging the people to watch out for the same before it turns fatal.

He also offered his guidance regarding do’s and don’t’s to battle mucormycosis.

Do’s:                                     

• Control hyperglycaemia
• Monitor blood glucose level post Covid-19 discharge and in diabetics
• Use steroid judiciously
• Use clean, sterile water for humidifiers during oxygen therapy
• Use antibiotics/anti-fungal judiciously

Don’t’s:

• Do not miss warning signs and symptoms
• Don’t consider all cases of blocked nose and as cases of bacterial sinusitis, especially in the cases of immunosuppression and/or Covid-19 patients on immunomodulators
• Don’t hesitate in seeking aggressive investigations as appropriate for detecting fungal etiology
• Don’t lose crucial time to initiate treatment for mucormycosis