Mucormycosis Scare: Black Fungus Diagnosed In Intestine Of 2 Covid Patients In Delhi

The two reported cases of black fungus detected in the lower intestine of two Covid patients is rare because the black fungus is generally found in the lungs.

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New Delhi: Cases of Black fungus and white fungus continue to haunt the country amid Covid crisis. The fungal infection also known as Mucormycosis is being declared as an epidemic in several states. At a time when Mucormycosis has claimed a total of 219 lives across the country to date, a rare case of black fungus has been detected in which the fungal infection infected the lower intestine of two patients who have recovered from coronavirus.

The two reported cases are rare because the black fungus is generally found in the lungs. However, this time, it has infected the intestine of two patients one aged 68 years and the other aged 56 years, both being treated at Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for more than a week.

The hospital authorities in the national capital alleged that it is the first time that the black fungus infected the lower intestine and even made a hole in it.

A Delhi resident, who recently lost his wife to Covid, complained of abdominal pain after recovering from novel disease. He had been tested positive for Covid along with his wife and had been experiencing mild covid symptoms initially. After recovery from Covid, when he complained of abdominal pain, it was considered gastritis and self-medication for acidity was taken which delayed proper treatment by three days.

Later, the patient was evaluated in Covid emergency wherein, the CT scan revealed that patient's small intestine had been perforated. Soon he was admitted and taken up urgently for surgery as his Covid disease also had worsened requiring ventilator support.

"Ulceration of Jejunam (first part of small intestine) in the patient raised suspicion of fungal disease and patient was immediately started on anti-fungal treatment. We sent the portion of removed intestine for biopsy," Dr Dhir said, as quoted by IANS.

Mucormycosis most commonly involves Rhino-orbital-cerebral system or the lungs. Intestinal or GI Mucormycosis is a very rare disease and most commonly involves the stomach or the large intestine.

(With IANS Inputs)