How dangerous is 'black fungus in India?

Ground Report | New Delhi: In India, the spread of covid-19 is difficult to control, but at the same time, a rare and dangerous fungus infection is affecting some patients with Covid. Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause further complications in people who are infected or recover from Covid-19.

In India, some Corona sufferers are infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis, dubbed the 'black fungus'. Some people who were recovering from the COVID-19 have also been affected. As of March this year, there have been 41 cases of cochlear implants worldwide, 70% of them were in India.

According to media reports, the number of cases may be much higher than the official figures, which is not surprising given the second wave of COVID-19 in India.

What is black fungus and what does it have to do with Covid-19?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is also called 'Zygomycetes' in science. The disease is spread by the fungus Myocorrhiza. This species of fungus is common in the environment. For example, it also occurs in soil and causes organic matter such as fruits or vegetables to decompose in the soil.

In the laboratory, these fungi grow rapidly and are dark brown in color but look dull. These fungi, which spread the disease in humans, can grow in an environment of body temperature and acidity. This happens when a tissue is dead, close to lifeless, or has uncontrolled diabetes.

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How can you be infected with black fungus ?

Mycobacterium fungus is considered opportunistic, meaning it affects people whose immune systems are already weakened or whose tissues are weakened.

The use of drugs such as cortico ste*oids damages the immune system and weakens the body's immune system. It can lead to diseases such as cancer or transplants in which the immune system is so weakened that even a minor illness can severely damage the body. Tissue damage (weakening) after a traumatic event or surgery.

Humans can be infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis in three ways: by sniffing the fungus through the nose, taking it in medicine or food, or when the fungus enters the body through a wound.

The fungus often enters the human body through the nose. In fact, we inhale many types of fungus every day, but if our immune system and lungs are healthy, it can prevent any infection. When the lungs and immune system are weak, like a person infected with COVID-19, the fungus begins to grow in the airways and interferes with the tissues inside our body.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis can also enter the lungs, but infections often affect the nose, respiratory tract or airways. From here, they can spread to the eyes and make a person blind, or they can spread to the brain and cause headaches or seizures.

This fungus can also damage human skin. Deadly wounds are common in natural disasters or war situations and are often thought to be caused by soil or water contamination.

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Fungus in the environment

In India, covid patients are the most affected by mycobacterium tuberculosis. What is the reason for this?

Globally, the spread of mycobacterium tuberculosis has been caused by contaminants that have affected the hospital, pharmaceutical and packaged food industries, but cases of mycobacterium tuberculosis in India show that it is not the only source of contamination.

Recently, it has been shown that 94% of patients with myocorrhizae associated with COVID-19 had diabetes.

An ideal storm

Most diabetics and obese people are affected by COVID-19 and have severe symptoms. This means they are more likely to get cortico ste*oids. It is used in the treatment of COVID-19, but giving mucormycosis to diabetics means that the person may also be at risk for mycorrhiza.

In COVID-19, victims deal with viruses that can damage the airways or blood vessels in the nose and throat, increasing the risk of Fungal infections.

In this way, blood vessels and tissues are damaged during COVID-19. Cortico ste*oids are given to treat this. Diabetes is also one of the most common causes of coronary heart disease. Due to the high prevalence of the fungus in the environment in India, it seems that the fungus is also harming the corona victims.

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