After the covid-19 infection, patients now have to worry about contracting Black Fungus! It could be a life-threatening infection, with mortality rates reaching up to 54% this is another level of the crises.
The Black Fungal infection is very rare but highly dangerous. It is more prevalent in those who have a history of health problems. Generally, people who have been or are immunocompromised due to any medications they are on or any syndrome they suffer from.
People with ailments like, Diabetes, Cancer, Organ Transplant, Long term steroid usage, Intravenous drug abuse, skin injury, burns or wounds, low WBC count, Stem Cell Transplant, etc., are more prone to catching a mucormycosis infection.
For the detection of this infection, health care facilitators would check for physical symptoms, medical history and other laboratory tests like collection of nasal/sinus fluid, tissue biopsy, CT scan of lungs, sinuses and other potential infection prone parts of the body.
Black fungal or Mucormycosis is a grave infection. If you feel more than 3 or 4 symptoms then you need to reach out to your medical healthcare professionals. The infection needs to be treated with proper prescribed antifungal medicine only. Often times, a mucormycosis infection might require surgery to incise the infected tissue.
People might contaminate themselves by inhaling or coming in contact with the fungal spores in the environment. A lung or sinus infection might be caused due to inhaling droplets with fungus, the fungus might invade through skin injuries, cuts or wounds, etc. There is slight relief, because mucormycosis isn’t transferrable between people and animals.
People with weakened immune system can follow a set of precautions so that they don’t breathe in the fungus through environment. Unfortunately, there isn’t any vaccine for mucormycosis.
You can take the following steps for protection against Black Fungus:
- Avoid areas filled with dust like construction or excavation sites. You can wear an N95 respirator face mask if you decide to visit such place.
- Avoid coming in contact with water-damaged buildings and contaminated water after flood or any natural distaer.
- Avoid touching soil or dust while doing yard work or gardening. Wear gloves when handling soil, moss or manure.
- Clean your skin injuries thoroughly with soap and water and put a nice bandage around the wound.
