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DOCTORS in India have warned white fungus could infect Covid patient’s lungs – and it could be as deadly as the black mould outbreak.
It comes after Indian medics said that black fungus had been rotting organs and limbs of some patients.
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Mucormycosis is caused by a group of moulds called mucormycetes which live in the environment in rotting vegetables and fruit, bread, soils and plants[/caption]
One expert today warned that the white fungus could even appear in patients who have already recovered from the coronavirus.
Dr S N Singh, who is head of microbiology at Patna Medical College in Bihar, India, said like the black fungus, white fungus was also likely to be seen in diabetic patients.
The black fungal infection is called mucormycosis and is caused by a group of moulds called mucormycetes which live in the environment in rotting vegetables and fruit, bread, soils and plants.
Dr Singh explained that the white fungus could be just as deadly if it finds a passage to the lungs in immuno-compromised people, the Times of India reported.
He said no cases have yet been reported of the white fungal infection at the hospital in Patna.
Dr Singh did however say that the presence of Candida had been found in the lungs of patients – two of which were thought to have been fully recovered from Covid.
What are the symptoms of mucormycosis?
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms vary depending on where the fungus is growing.
Symptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:
- Headache
- One-sided facial swelling
- Nasal or sinus congestion
- Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe
- Fever
Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Candida is a fungal infection caused by yeast and normally lives on the skin or inside the body in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems.
But for some people it can cause itchiness or irritation.
According to experts, hot and humid conditions, as well being on oxygen support for a long time, are all causes of both black and white fungal infections.
Indian has been bombarded with coronavirus cases in the last month and many hospitals have had to pack patients in, treating them in cramped conditions with many receiving oxygen.
Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness.
Early signs of the infection include a blocked nose, one-sided headache, swelling or numbness, pain in the face, toothache and loosening of teeth. Pictured: A person with mucormycosis[/caption]
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It can be life-threatening in diabetic or severely immunocompromised individuals, such as patients with cancer or organ donor recipients.
In Covid patients, it’s more prevalent in patients who are on ventilators.
Doctors think this may be due to the use of steroid drugs, which are used to treat severely ill Covid patients.
Steroids reduce inflammation caused by an overactive immune response fight off coronavirus.
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