States »SoutPosted at: May 10 2021 6:12PM Deadly ‘fungal infection’ found among Covid 19 +ve patients in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, May 10 (UNI) Doctors at Continental Hospitals, one of the leading healthcare facilities in the city, on Monday said that they have come across Covid-19 positive patients who are suffering from Mucormycosis, a deadly fungal infection, posing as a silent killer.
In the past 3-4 weeks, a total of 5 patients have been reported with this deadly fungal infection at Continental Hospitals, indicating rise in the condition among the people of Hyderabad, the hospital said in a release here.
Prolonged hospitalisation and continuous use of corticosteroids, which has become standard for Covid-19 treatment is resulting in lowering immune system and this could lead to susceptibility to infections like Mucormycosis, which could cause irreversible damage to organs and threatening life of infected patients.
Commenting on symptoms, Dr Dushyanth Ganesuni, Consultant, ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon and Laryngologist, Continental Hospitals said, "Swelling around the eyes, one-sided facial or eye pain, decreased sensation over cheeks, blood-stained nasal discharge, among others are symptoms of Mucormycosis infection and should report such cases immediately for medical attention. Such patients will be administered with certain antifungal drugs or a surgical debridement will be performed depending on the condition to reduce the disease burden."
"Unjustified and self-prescribed use of antibiotics and steroids to treat Covid-19 symptoms is dangerous. Such a practice will affect the immune system and could lead to secondary infections like Mucormycosis. Hence, even for conditions like fevers, cold, cough, it is suggested one seeks medical advice before resorting to any form of self-medication," Dr. Dushyanth added.
Several studies from around the world have indicated that secondary fungal infections among critically ill Covid-19 positive patients is in the range of 5-23 per cent; while mortality rate among these fungus infected patients increases to 53 percent from 31 percent in non-infected Covid-19+ve patients.
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