Black fungus cases on rise, 22 at AIIMS-Patna

PATNA: Cases of mucormycosis or black fungus, caused by mucor, have been on the rise in Bihar as several people have been diagnosed with the rare back fungal infection after recovering from the Covid-19.
As many as 22 patients of black fungus have been admitted to AIIMS-Patna, where a separate 20-bed ward for them has been opened on Monday. The remaining patients of mucormycosis are being treated in other wards of the hospital.
A team of ophthalmologists, ENT specialists, neuro and plastic surgeons has been deputed in this ward.
AIIMS-P nodal officer for Covid, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, said 10 more patients with symptoms of black fungus have been given appointments for admission.
“Two of the 22 patients had to undergo surgery as the black fungus had severely affected their nasal. Three patients are unconscious as the infection has travelled to their brain,” he said.
“In some cases, surgery requires removal of all dead and infected tissues. It is important that people should contact the doctors on detecting early symptoms like pain in facial areas, redness in eyes, proptosis and nasal crusting. These symptoms can be treated with anti-fungal medication,” Dr Sanjeev said.
“The AIIMS-P has received about 100 calls from people having symptoms of black fungus after recovering from Covid and also during their treatment at different private hospitals,” he said.
Majority of the patients admitted to AIIMS-P are from Ara, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Muzaffarpur and Begusarai among other places.
Covid patients who are diabetic or have other comorbidities have a higher chance of catching this infection. High usage of steroids during the Covid treatment, prolonged hospitalisation in ICU and use of non-sterilised humidifier are some of the reasons behind the fungal infection. In severe cases, the infection could lead to loss of eyesight and even death in rare cases.
Four mucormycosis patients are also undergoing treatment at Ruban Memorial Hospital and all have gone through the surgical removal of dead tissues.
Dr Satyajeet Kumar Singh, consultant urologist, said the eyeballs of two patients were removed to stop the infection from travelling to the brain.
“One patient, who is also a doctor from Bettiah Medical College, is in a critical condition due to late hospitalisation,” he said.
Dr Pankaj Hans said the doctor from Bettiah has been operated for rhinocerebral mucormycosis. “He is having multiple comorbidities and still in a critical condition. He is not maintaining adequate saturation level even on ventilator support,” he told this newspaper.
Ten patients are also admitted at IGIMS-Patna besides four suspected cases while one was discharged after recovery. “The state government has provided us liposomal amphotericin-B injection for the treatment of black fungus,” said its superintendent Dr Manish Mandal.
Paras HMRI regional director (east) Dr Talat Halim said six more patients with black fungus have been admitted in the last 24 hours, taking their number to 10. “Two patients require surgery while the others can be treated with anti-fungal medication,” he said.