‘Black fungus’ fear driving those with minor infections to doctors

With sinusitis mimicking preliminary signs of mucormycosis, often known as “black fungus”, there may be panic and fear amongst individuals. This fear is driving even those with minor nasal tract or eye infections to rush to doctors.

Several ENT specialists and ophthalmologists that The Puucho spoke to stated there may be an elevated apprehension amongst individuals if their nasal stuffiness or one-sided headache or toothache is a warning signal of mucormycosis.

Doctors who stated that though mucormycosis isn’t seen in non-COVID immunocompromised individuals, it’s now primarily seen as a post-COVID-19 complication amongst those who’ve uncontrolled diabetes, are immunocompromised following steroid therapy for COVID-19.

K. Bhujang Shetty, chairman of Narayana Nethralaya and member of the State’s professional committee on mucormycosis, stated there isn’t any want to panic as the basis reason behind the situation is uncontrolled diabetes, both pre-existing or drug (steroid) induced.

While it’s all the time essential to seek the advice of a health care provider when unsure, solely those with uncontrolled diabetes who’ve recovered from COVID-19 and have obtained steroid therapy or those who obtained oxygen by way of nasal masks or canulas or have been on ventilators are at excessive danger.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic invasive fungal an infection, beginning within the nostril traversing inwards into the sinuses and generally invading the eyes and mind. “It is important for people with high blood sugar to immediately seek medical treatment and control it,” he asserted.

Ajay Doiphode, ENT advisor and life member of ENT Association of India, identified that not all sinus signs or colds are associated to mucormycosis. “People are unnecessarily getting anxious and are not convinced when we tell them that they do not have the infection even after an examination, which includes a nasal endoscopic check. Most are pleading for CT Scan or MRI of nose and sinuses,” he stated. Karthik Shamanna, professor, Department of ENT at BMCRI, stated: “If an individual does not have diabetes or if the blood sugar is controlled, there is no need to panic.”

Rohit Udaya Prasad, advisor, ENT and Hearing Implantology, Aster RV Hospital, stated on a mean, he sees round 10 queries a day both by way of telephone/video name/OPD visits from sufferers who’ve not one of the danger components for mucormycosis. “People these days have more screen time on their gadgets, leading to eye strain and even such patients are visiting the hospital to find out if they have mucormycosis,” he stated.

Santosh Sivaswamy, consultant-ENT, Columbia Asia Hospital Hebbal (a unit of Manipal Hospitals), stated the hospital has been getting about 10 to 12 calls per day from individuals who have skilled headache and are complicated it for mucormycosis.

All 10 beds in Bowring occupied

A day after the State Health Department recognized Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute because the devoted facility within the metropolis for therapy of mucormycosis circumstances, the hospital has seen 10 confirmed circumstances.

Institute dean and director H.V. Manoj Kumar stated all 10 beds put aside for mucormycosis have been occupied in a day. “If we get more cases, we do not know where to accommodate them,” he stated.

Although Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar had on Monday stated that 97 circumstances has been reported within the State, in accordance to doctors from numerous hospitals the quantity may very well be greater than 200 within the metropolis itself.