Jammu witnesses first ‘Black Fungus’ case

Jammu and Kashmir’s winter capital Jammu witnessed the first case of mucormycosis or ‘Black Fungus’ on the Government Medical Collage (GMC) on Friday.

“A mucormycosis case has been found in a 40-year-old patient. The patient, who recovered from COVID-19, is now suffering from uncontrolled diabetes. He is under observation,” Dr. Shashi Sudan, Principal of the GMC, mentioned.

The sugar degree of the affected person, which is round 900, may very well be resulting from long-term use of steroid medicine, she mentioned.

Govt points advisory

The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir had issued an advisory for the prevention of mucormycosis.

“Better control of the sugar levels during COVID-19 with or without steroids. Judicious use of steroids observing correct timing, correct dose and correct duration,” the advisory mentioned.

It directed “judicious use of antibiotics or antifungal”. “To use clean, sterile water for humidifiers during the oxygen therapy, use distilled or sterile water, never use unboiled tap water or mineral water,” it mentioned.

All Chief Medical Officers had been directed to make sure that the protection of steroids by retail medical store homeowners is regulated and allotted solely below a legitimate medical prescription.

Influenza skilled Dr. Nisar ul Hassan, additionally president of the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK), mentioned if mucormycosis is left untreated it may very well be deadly for COVID-19 sufferers.

“COVID-19 leads to lymphopenia, therefore, predisposing patients to opportunistic fungal infection. People who have diabetes should keep their sugar levels in control,” he mentioned.

After inhaling fungus from the air, it may go into nostril, sinuses, eyes and mind resulting in lack of imaginative and prescient and even demise in some instances, he famous.