RADARDEPOK.COM – In the case of the Corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic, cases of black fungus infection become one of the other disease threats that the public needs to be aware of.
The dangers of black fungus began to be discussed after a number of cases were detected in India and caused deaths.
Actually, cases of black fungus infection in Indonesia have emerged since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The head of the Lung Mycosis Working Group for Pulmonary Mycosis Center, FKUI/Friendship Hospital, Anna Rozaliyani, said that this disease is a rare category. Multiple cases mucormicosis in Indonesia had been reported before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although the number is not much, but the death and pain rate is high.
Due to the harmful effects of this disease, the public is asked to be aware of infection mucormycosis by knowing the causes and symptoms of black fungus infection.
Here are the facts about black fungus disease:
1. Causes of infection
Black fungus disease or mucormycosis is a systemic fungal infection caused by Mucormycetes like Rhizopus spp, Mucor spp, Rhizomucor spp, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Apophysomyces spp, and Lichteimia.
Mucormycosis occurs through contact with spores or fungal elements from the environment such as soil, and decaying organic matter such as leaves, compost piles, and animal waste.
Black fungus usually attacks the sinuses or lungs after a person inhales mold spores in the air.
The disease then begins to manifest as a skin infection in the air sacs located behind the forehead, nose, cheekbones, and between the eyes and teeth.
India’s Ministry of Health says black fungus infection can spread to the eyes, lungs and even the brain.
2. Impact of infection
A cardiometabolic specialist at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Hemant Thacker said, one way mucormycosis in infecting is by attacking the blood vessels.
Under these conditions, circulation to the distal organs will be disrupted, resulting in what is called necrosis or tissue death and turning black.
This is what makes this infection then called a black fungus infection.
“In the most severe cases, the infection can pass through the blood vessels to the brain, potentially causing vision loss or creating a gaping hole in the face,” he said.
“If not controlled, untreated, it can have a mortality (rate) of 20 percent to 50 percent,” Thacker continued.
3. Symptoms of infection
Symptoms of black fungus infection depend on the part of the body where the fungus grows and infects.
Some of the common symptoms that arise due to black fungus infection are as follows:
- Fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Hard to breathe
- Swelling on one side of the face
- Headache
- sinus blockage
- Black lesions on the bridge of the nose or inside of the mouth
- Stomach ache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Diarrhea
If the skin is infected with black fungus, the area of the skin will be blistered, red, and swollen.
Over time, the area of skin infected with black fungus will turn black, feel hot, and painful.
4. Threats to Covid-19 survivors
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, mucormycosis harmless to most people.
However, for those whose immune system is weak, black fungus infection can have serious consequences.
As is known, Covid-19 that infects a person’s body will reduce his body’s immunity.
As a result, the body becomes more easily infected with various pathological threats, including black fungus infections.
When one of the causes of disease mucormycosis also infect the patient’s body, then it will result in worse.
5. How to prevent
Black fungus disease is a rare category. However, some groups of people are more susceptible to being infected by this disease.
People who are at higher risk of developing the disease mucormycosis were patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression by steroids, long ICU stay, and post-transplant comorbidities or voriconazole therapy.
To prevent infection, experts advise people to wear masks when visiting dusty construction sites.
In addition, it’s a good idea to wear shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and gloves when touching the ground such as gardening, cleaning moss, or making manure.
Then, the most important preventive step is to maintain personal hygiene including bathing regularly and thoroughly to avoid infection mucormycosis. (rd/net)
Editor : Pebri Mulya
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