Mucormycosis: A Fungal Rarity Mangling Coronavirus Disease-2019 Patients in India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17140/RPAOJ-6-131Keywords:
COVID-19, Mucormycosis, Black fungus, Diabetes, Immunocompromised patientsAbstract
Mucormycosis is a rare, non-contagious fungal infection with high fatality rates, identified since centuries. It was found that the filamentous fungi of the family Mucoraceae attacks immunocompromised patients on medication due to comorbidities like diabetes, organ transplant or malignancy. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) recovering patients especially with diabetes mellitus or high glucose levels due to corticosteroid treatment made them vulnerable to this fungus. This was announced as an epidemic based on the rapidity of spread and the very high death rates. This was due to the fact that COVID-19 made the immune system of the patient so weak and the steroids given to treat corona provided an ambient bed for the speedy growth of the fungus and finally leading to death. The timely diagnosis of the infection can help to manage mucormycosis may it be by antifungal combination therapy, reduced use of steroids, control blood sugar levels, and removal of necrotic cells by surgical debridement. The review article is an outline of the clinical manifestation, histopathology, mortality rates, diagnosis and treatment of this deadly disease.
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