Can non covid patients get black fungus?? Here's what experts say
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: May 26, 2021 03:34 PM2021-05-26T15:34:25+5:302021-05-26T15:34:25+5:30
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As it battles a furious second coronavirus wave, India is facing another challenge in the form of mucormycosis, often referred to as black fungus, with states reporting a surge in the disease that poses a risk to the brain, lungs and sinuses.
In Haryana, the count has risen to 421. The infection is on a rise among COVID-19 patients in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well.
Though recently mucormycosis has been reported among coronavirus patients, this fungal infection can happen even to people without COVID-19 disease, the Hindustan Times reported experts as saying. They cautioned those who have high blood sugar against mucormycosis.
“What medical students are taught about black fungus is that this infects diabetic people — those who have uncontrolled diabetes. The combination of uncontrolled diabetes and some other significant disease may lead to black fungus," Niti Aayog (health) member VK Paul was quoted as saying.
A diabetes patient becomes vulnerable to black fungus when one’s blood sugar level reaches 700-800—a situation medically known as diabetic ketoacidosis, the report cited Paul as saying.
Healthy people do not need to worry about the fungal infection but people with weakened immunity are at greater risk, said All India Institute of Medical Science’s Dr Nikhil Tandon.
