A rare case of Black fungus has been detected in the small intestine of two recovered COVID-19 patients, confirmed by the doctors of the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. Black fungus or Mucormycosis can turn dangerous if left untreated and may turn fatal if uncared for. Multiple cases of 'Black Fungus' a rare fungal infection have been reported in India in the past few weeks.
According to a report by India Today, the two cases are rare because the Black fungus is generally found in the lungs but the two patients found treated at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital had COVID-19 and Mucormycosis of the stomach/colon.
“The biopsy confirmed our worst fear of Mucormycosis of the small intestine in both patients. Both these patients had Covid-19 and had diabetes but only one of them had received steroids,” the hospital was quoted as saying by India Today.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain informed that 197 cases of black fungus till Friday have been reported in government and private hospitals of the national capital, Delhi.
CT scan revealed the Mucormycosis of the small intestine in the patient after the 56-year-old experienced abdominal pain after recovering from COVID-19. The patient took self-medication for acidity which delayed the treatment. After a CT scan revealed the Mucormycosis of the small intestine in the patient, the doctors decided to operate.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said that minimal steroids should be used for the treatment of COVID-19 and only on the advice of doctors it should be administered.
Jain said that black fungus is happening because to two reasons, the first is the increase in blood sugar levels and the second is the decrease in immunity due to high usage of steroids.
"If the doctor has advised taking steroids then only consume them, otherwise do not take it because steroids destroy the immunity of the body," he said.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal on Thursday (May 20) also informed that his government will declare black fungus an epidemic if the need arises and appealed to hospitals to use steroids in COVID treatment in a controlled manner.
"We will declare the black fungus situation in Delhi an epidemic if the need arises...I want to appeal to all hospitals and doctors to use steroids in a controlled amount. The patients need to control their sugar levels. Mixture of steroids and (blood) sugar is causing black fungus," Kejriwal told the media.