India has been courageously dealing with the wrath of the second wave of COVID-19. The emotional, financial, and health impact of this virus has left many people in distress and while many are still coming out of their hardships, a new serious and deadly problem of fungal infections has arisen in COVID-19 patients, further burdening the healthcare system.
Doctors at ZHL Limited mentions factors such as comorbidities, low immunity levels, unsanitary conditions, and overuse of steroids while treating COVID-19 saw black fungus’ infection or ‘mucormycosis’ cases develop across the country. Subsequently, white fungus and yellow fungus infection cases also started to be reported, even before the healthcare experts could comprehensively chalk out a plan of action for managing black fungus cases. Ziqitza Rajasthan and ZHL Rajasthan have put together few things to helps you to understand what these infections are and how to be one step ahead of them.
Black fungus
In medical language, it is called mucormycosis. It is caused by Mucor or Racezopus fungus. These fungi usually grow in soil, rotten fruits, and vegetables. Experts say that black fungus affects the sinuses, brain, and lungs.
How dangerous is black fungus?
Experts say that black fungus infection is more dangerous if it occurs in the lungs because its symptoms appear late. When there is an infection in the lungs, symptoms such as chest pain and difficulty in breathing occur. The most dangerous thing is that it has a mortality rate of up to 50 percent.
White fungus
White fungus is called Candida in the medical language. White spots appear in it, white spots appear on the tongue. Experts say that its infection can be in the kidneys and lungs. Those at risk of getting infected are at the risk of having poor immunity, suffering from diabetes, and staying in the ICU for a long time.
How dangerous is white fungus?
Experts say that it is not as dangerous as mucormycosis i.e. black fungus, but still, it has a mortality rate of close to 10 percent. White fungus infection becomes dangerous when the infection comes into the bloodstream.
Yellow fungus
Yellow fungus in the medical language is called Mucor Septimius. This fungus is commonly found in creeping animals. It is a type of mucormycosis, in which symptoms such as fever, weakness, red or black discharge from the nose, decreased sensation around the nose are seen. There is no information about mortality data, as there is no clear study related to it.
Ziqitza Healthcare helps you understand the symptoms of Black, Yellow, and White fungus
Black Fungus: Any patient, who had COVID in the last 2-6 weeks should keep a watch on one-sided facial pain, excruciating headache, swelling in and around the eyes, and brownish or blackish nasal discharge, nasal stuffiness, and loosening of teeth. The symptoms depend on the severity of the infection.
- Nasal blockage
- Bleeding
- Discharge from the nose
- Facial pain
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Blurring of vision
- Double vision or watery eyes
White Fungus: The symptoms of white fungus are similar to those of COVID and the infection can be diagnosed through CT-scan or X-ray.
- Cough
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Dark spots on lungs, reduced oxygen level
- Swelling
- Infections
- Persistent headaches
- Pain
Yellow Fungus: Some of the prominent symptoms of yellow fungus are Lethargy, Poor appetite or no appetite, Weight loss or poor metabolism and Sunken eyes.
- Hypersensitivity of pneumonitis
- Pneumonia with cavity
- Pneumonia with fungal wall
- Pneumonia with cavity and fungal wall
- Lethargy
- Poor appetite or no appetite
- Weight loss or poor metabolism
- Sunken eyes
Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd. (ZHL) urges you if you do notice any fungal infection symptoms, it is important that you get to a hospital at the earliest. Please do not try to treat the infection at home. Check with your doctor and take appropriate medication at the earliest.