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Black Fungus or Mucormycosis is a rare infection caused by exposure to mucor mold commonly found in plants, soil, decayed plants, and vegetables. It affects the sinus, brain, lungs and could be life-threatening in diabetic or immunocompromised individuals.
With a mortality rate of 50 percent, black fungus is not something to be taken lightly. The symptoms of black fungus are blackening or discoloration of the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulty, and coughing blood. The Indian medical body is keeping an eye on this rare fungal infection hitting covid 19 patients.
Doctors believe the usage of steroids in severely ill covid patients is causing their blood sugar levels to drop. This low Blood sugar level is responsible for the black fungus infection. “There are more than 20 cases of the fungal infection in AIIMS itself, all of whom are Covid positive. Many states have reported 400 to 500 cases, all among COVID patients,” All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria has added(source livemint.com).
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Given the mortality rate of black fungus, doctors have placed severely ill diabetic covid positive patients on steroid treatment under high risk of getting this infection. Hence, Diabetic patients should constantly monitor their blood sugar levels.
On a positive note, experts believe black fungus is not contagious. It does not spread from human to human or animal to human.
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