3 more deaths reported, black fungus toll in Gurgaon 4 in 2 days

Gurgaon: The city on Thursday reported three more suspected mucormycosis (black fungus) deaths. According to the health department, the three patients, all men, were being treated at two private hospitals for Covid-19 and succumbed to the infection on Thursday. One of them was just 33 years old, while the other two were 75 and 87.
Gurgaon hospitals have so far reported 108 cases of black fungus, 13 of them on Thursday, even as hospitals continue to face a shortage of amphotericin B. The number of fatal black fungus infections in the city is now four, after the death of a 29-year-old on Wednesday. Haryana has reported 285 cases of black fungus so far.
Both the 33-year-old and 75-year-old were admitted to hospital on May 14, while the 78-year-old was admitted on May 12. All three had post-Covid complications and swelling in the nose and face.
The health department said Haryana has constituted a committee to audit suspected mucormycosis deaths. “The state-level committee has already issued amphotericin B for 14 patients admitted in various hospitals in Gurgaon,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.
According to doctors, the recent rise in black fungus cases has been seen in Covid patients who were on oral or intravenous steroids, had poor glycemic control (in diabetic patients), or were on oxygen support and mechanical ventilation.
Asked how such cases are being managed, doctors said urgent surgical debridement (removal of infected tissue) of fungal debris from the nasal cavity is required. “Patients with extensive infection of the eye may require removal of the affected eye. Intravenous liposomal amphotericin B is also required for a period of 7-14 days, apart from regular suctioning and debridement of fungus from the nose. Mucormycosis is a deadly disease and if not treated on time, may lead to death,” said Dr Ravinder Gera, associate director and head of the ENT department, Max Super Speciality Hospital.
There are two types of mucormycosis — rhinocerebral (affecting the nasal, eye and brain areas) and pulmonary (affecting the lungs). Dr Shiba Kalyan Biswal, consultant (pulmonary and sleep medicine) at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, said: “Through the nose, it can potentially invade the eyes and then the brain, which can result in paralysis of the eyes and brain infection. In cases of lung mucormycosis, the symptoms are high-grade fever, cough and haemoptysis (coughing of blood), which may lead to lung damage.”
He said early diagnosis is critical as further complications can cause more damage. “During Covid treatment and even after recovery, one should never ignore symptoms like frequently blocked nose, coughing of blood or swollen eyes and consult a doctor immediately.”