Mucormycosis: AIIMS director lists three key factors to prevent 'black fungus' infection

How to prevent Black fungus (Mucormycosis): As several states and UTs started reporting the cases of Mucormycosis, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria on Friday announced three factors in the prevention of 'black fungus' infection, prevalent in Covid-19 patients. He said that there has been an increasing trend in the fungal infection being seen in COVID patients. This was also reported to some extent during the SARS outbreak, he said, adding that uncontrolled diabetes with COVID can also predispose to the development of Mucormycosis. Also Read | Second Wave of Coronavirus in India: PM Narendra Modi a ‘super-spreader’ of COVID-19, says IMA Vice President "Steroid use has become much more in this COVID wave, and steroids given when not indicated in mild or early disease can cause a secondary infection," he said. Also Read | Coronavirus Punjab Updates: All Covid curbs in Punjab extended till May 31, orders Captain Amarinder Singh

How to prevent Black fungus (Mucormycosis)?

"Three factors are very important- good control of blood sugar levels, those on steroids must monitor blood sugar levels regularly, and be careful about when to give steroids and their dosage," Randeep Guleria said. Adding, he said that those given a high dose of steroids when not indicated can lead to high blood sugar levels and a high chance of Mucormycosis. There're a lot of false messages going around that it can happen due to eating raw food but there is no data to suggest that. It also has nothing to do with the type of O2 being used, he clarified, adding that it is also being reported in people in home isolation. Meanwhile, Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman, Medanta, said that the first symptoms of COVID-associated Mucormycosis are pain/stuffiness in the nose, inflammation on the cheek, fungus patch inside the mouth, swelling in the eyelid, etc. Click here to follow PTC News on Twitter -PTC News