Number of black fungus cases rises to 300 in Bihar

PATNA: It is a double whammy for some Covid and post-Covid patients as the pandemic has not only affected their health, but also made them permanently disabled with mucormycosis, a rare black fungal infection. So far, more than 300 cases of mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus, have been recorded in the state.
To stop the spread of mucormycosis, doctors in some cases are forced to take tough decisions like removing eyeballs, nasal septum that separates the left and right airways of the nasal cavity, mandible bone (lower jaw, which is the largest and strongest bone in the human facial skeleton), maxilla that forms the upper jaw and part of the brain to save people’s lives. This is fallout of ignoring early symptoms of mucormycosis.
Dr Bibhuti Prashun Sinha, head of regional ophthalmic centre at IGIMS, said exenteration (complete removal of eye leaving a hollow) has to be done in three patients. “The primary surgery in mucor is debridement, which is to remove all the dead tissues from maxillary, sinus, floor of orbit to restore the blood circulation. More than 35 surgeries took place at IGIMS to treat mucor patients,” he said.
The number of mucormycosis cases at IGIMS has reached 84, including 23 Covid patients.
A 61-year-old man, who defeated Covid recently, has contracted mucormycosis. “In the early stage, we did not realise. When he visited an eye specialist, it became clear that he was suffering from mucormycosis. The doctors removed the dead tissues. If his situation does not remove, doctors might remove one of his eyes,” said a family member of the patient.
Altogether 11 patients are fighting mucormycosis at Ruban Memorial Hospital. Two patients have died due to late reporting at the hospital. Dr Satyajit Kumar Singh, hospital’s managing director, said eye extraction has happened in two cases.
The number of black fungus cases at AIIMS-Patna has increased to 89. Dr Sanjeev Kumar, nodal officer for Covid-19 at AIIMS-Patna, said some mucormycosis patients came after the infection spread from their sinus to the eye orbit, affecting their vision.
Additional professor and head of ENT department at AIIMS-Patna, Dr Kranti Bhawna, said the doctors removed the dead tissues from 3-4 patients where eye involvement was found.
At PMCH, out of 11 mucormycosis patients, one needed eye surgery. Head of ENT department at PMCH, Dr Vinit Sinha, said as the hospital did not have surgical instrument, the patients are being referred to AIIMS-P and IGIMS.