Hyderabad, May 23 :National Communicable Disease Control Programme Advisor Dr Naresh Purohit Today said that diabetes and steroids fuelling new mucormycosis (Black fungus) wave in Post Covid-19 patients.
India has for long been the world’s worst hotspot for this black fungal infection.
Global prevalence of mucormycosis varies between 0.005 and 1.7 per million population, but its prevalence in India is nearly 80 times higher (0.14 per 1,000), Dr Purohit, an acclaimed epidemiologist told UNI here.
In other words, India has the highest cases of mucormycosis in the world, he said that Mucormycosis is an uncommon fungal infection and the “unholy trinity” of Covid-19, diabetes and steroids seems to be fuelling the present outbreak of mucormycosis across the country.
India is considered the diabetes capital of the world, it is not surprising that it leads in mucormycosis cases as well, he said.
“Association of low immunity, use of steroids and diabetes with mucormycosis was well known before Covid, he said it is likely that Covid-induced immune change works like fuel on fire.
High possibility to get black fungus on using normal tap water instead distill water in oxygen concentrators, he said that fungus mostly seen in males as compared to females.
Increased levels of iron in blood, decreased activity of white blood cells also play a role, he said .
WHO-Covid19 – technical lead Dr Purohit pointed that heavy intake of steroids with no vitamin and immune supplementation has led to further deterioration of health of Covid19 recovered patients. Many of them are reporting back to hospitals with complaints of black fungus, urinary tract infection, recurrent diarrhea and compromised lung-functioning, he said.
He averred that irrational use of steroids and self medication has led to a range of side-effects.
In umpteen districts of Andhra Pradesh, the government medical tool kit has steroid methylprednisolone, which is given after five days if symptoms of fever, body pain, fatigue, cough and cold do not disappear.
Improper use of steroids also includes stopping it suddenly, rather than tapering off. This affects one’s health. The sugar levels in borderline patients have flared up and most of them are not aware, he said.
Executive Member of the National Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme , Dr Purohit observed that during and after treatment, the protocols for improving the immunity to ensure overall recovery are not being followed by these post- covid patients.
People are not willing to acknowledge self-medication and it requires strict questioning to understand their treatment regime, he added.(UNI)