BLACK FUNGUS

Subject : Science & tech

Context : Black fungus medicine crisis boosts cheap alternative

Concept :

Mucormycosis — a rare form of fungal infection which could affect vision, and threatens life, if people do not get treated immediately after spotting its symptoms.
Mucormycosis has to be suspected in COVID-19 patients, diabetics and immuno-suppressed individuals when they have sinusitis – nasal blockade or congestion, nasal discharge (blackish/bloody), local pain on the cheek bone.

Symptoms:

One-sided facial pain, numbness or swelling. Blackish discolouration over bridge of nose or palate. Toothache, loosening of teeth, jaw involvement.
Blurred or double vision with pain; fever, skin lesion; thrombosis & necrosis (eschar). Chest pain, pleural effusion, haemoptysis, worsening of respiratory symptoms

Treatment:

Treatment includes aggressive surgery or radical debridement and exenteration of effected or blind eye, long term follow-up along with anti-fungal medications. Apart from surgery, prolonged anti-fungal treatment plays a major role in curing the patient.

WHITE FUNGUS

White Fungus or Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida.
Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems.
Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain).
The most common species that causes infection is Candida albicans.

Cause:

This infection can be caused due to low immunity, or if people come in contact with things that contain these moulds like water, etc.
Children and women are more at risk of contracting the fungal infection.
Like the black fungus, white fungus is also more likely to afflict people with compromised immune systems, pre-existing medical conditions, AIDS, a recent kidney transplant or diabetes.

Symptoms:

People experience symptoms similar to Covid if it reaches the lungs such as chest infection, despite testing negative for the virus.
White fungus affects the lungs as well as other parts of the body including the nails, skin, stomach, kidney, brain, private parts and mouth.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

CT scans or X-Rays can reveal the condition.
Patients with the white fungus are currently being treated with known anti-fungal medication.