Richismita Hazra, Amity University Kolkata
Amidst the concerns over surging cases of an aggressive and invasive fungal infection – ‘Black Fungus’ recently several cases of ‘White Fungus’ have been reported in India. This infection has been confirmed in four patients in Bihar one of them being a famous doctor in Patna.
This infection is said to be more vicious than the Black Fungus by medical experts. It similarly affects the lungs as SARS-CoV-2 and brings about shortness of breath and chest pains. Apart from the lungs, it affects other parts of the body including the mouth, brain, kidney, stomach, nails, skin, and private parts. The infection can be detected by performing HRCT. According to the reports from Dr. SN Singh, the head of PMCH’s Microbiology Department, all the patients had symptoms that were similar to that of Covid-19 but were not tested positive for the same. They were treated with anti-fungal medicines.
Symptoms
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the symptoms of this disease depend on the location of the growth of the fungus in the body. The major symptoms of White Fungal infection are:
- Tiny, painless bump on the skin (can grow bigger) which may develop any time from 1 to 12 weeks after exposure to the fungus.
- Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever.
- Infection in joints may cause joint pains that are similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Difficulty in thinking, headache, and seizures may develop if the infection occurs in the central nervous system.
Are you at risk?
People with compromised immunity, diabetes patients, AIDS patients, or people who take steroids for a long time are more susceptible to get infected with White Fungus. People who have undergone surgeries and transplants in recent days are also more likely to get the infection. Negligence while using oxygen cylinders for Covid patients can put them at a higher risk of ‘White Fungus’ infection.
Protection
- Wear protective clothing like full sleeves and use gloves.
- Avoid getting cuts or scrapes from plant matter.
- It is crucial to maintain high hygiene levels to keep one protected from infection.
Also read: Happy hypoxia: The COVID-19 condition that’s baffling medical professionals
Reference
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