Black Fungus an Add on Epidemic to COVID-19 Pandemic
Shilpi Tiwari *
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Parimala Kulkarni
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Shikha Mali
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Sanjana Bhargava
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Nandini Jaiswal
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Arathi Menon
Department of Public Health Dentistry, People’s College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
COVID-19 patients have lower immunosuppressive CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells and henceforth patients in intensive care units (ICU) need mechanical ventilation, henceforward they stay in hospitals. These patients have been exposed to advances in fungal co-infections. COVID-19 patients progress towards mucormycosis a black fungal infection that is deadly leading to loss of sight and hearing and eventually death. This article discusses the clinical manifestations, risk factors and emphases on virulence traits and management of black fungus.
Keywords: Black fungus, Mucormycosis, COVID-19, Rhino-orbital Mucormycosis