Pune: Mucormycosis continues to surface among Covid cured

PUNE: Covid-associated mucormycosis or black fungus cases might have significantly gone down, but fresh infections in small numbers are continuing to surface.
Last week, four new cases of Covid-associated mucormycosis were reported in Pune district. Besides, 29 patients are recovering at various hospitals, including Sassoon General Hospital, in the district. With this, the number of total Covid-associated mucormycosis cases has gone up to 1,537 in the region in the past eight months. Of them, 1,284 have recovered and 224 died.

The most common factor for contracting mucormycosis in recovering Covid patients is the combination of uncontrolled diabetes and use of steroids. “Most new patients are being referred to Pune from neighbouring districts like Ahmednagar and Solapur. A few of these cases have developed complications, as they delayed seeking medical care,” said Samir Joshi, Sassoon hospital’s ENT surgeon.
Mucormycosis needs to be treated with antifungal medicines, while keeping blood sugar under control and eating a balanced diet are crucial for early recovery, experts have said. Maxillofacial surgeon J B Garde said, “The patients are coming from neighbouring districts and the rural parts of Pune. Those who land up early need only clearing of infection (debridement) in the sinuses.”
Blackish discoloration over the bridge of the nose or palate and blurred or double vision with pain have emerged as prominent red flags in addition to the one-sided facial pain or numbness, toothache and sinusitis, expressed have said.
Mucormycosis cases rose during the second wave of the pandemic between February and August this year and started declining after a drop in the daily Covid infections. “Earlier, we would see 20 to 40 cases a week.It is now down to three to four,” additional district health officer Abhay Tidke said.