Gujarat: 'Deadly fungal infection' being reported in patients post COVID-19 recovery

Mucormycosis, a fungal infection whose mortality rate is as high as 50 per cent when it affects the brain, was noticed in around 2000 patients of their recovery from COVID in Gujarat. As per the experts, Covid-19 patients are more susceptible to this virus, adding that it is there in the air.

Surat/Bhavnagar: Amid the coronavirus pandemic, around 2,000 people in Gujarat are suffering from Mucormycosis -- fungus in the eyes. Every day 15 to 20 patients of Mucormycosis report to the Kiran hospital of Surat’s Katargam area.

In the last one month, a total of 40 such patients were admitted to Kiran hospital and there are still over 60 patients waiting for the operation.

A total of seven persons have already undergone surgery. The symptoms of this serious disease are quite simple and yet if not treated on time, it can prove to be fatal.

In many cases, patients have lost their eyesight. This disease is more found in people who have recovered from COVID-19. People suffering from diabetes, cancer or skin disease are more prone to getting Mucormycosis.

Kiran hospital’s ENT specialist Dr Bhavin Patel told ETV Bharat that the disease is due to post COVID effect. Diabetic patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are more prone to getting this disease.

If such patients are not given the proper and timely treatment they are likely to lose their eyesight or even die. In many cases, the blood sugar level increases because of steroid injection given for the treatment of COVID-19.

This causes a serious side effect and the risk of this disease is more to patients who have cancer or skin disease.

Patients can die if the fungus reaches the brain

He said those with low immunity are more prone to this disease. The formation of fungus starts from a choked nose following which there is difficulty in breathing.

It gradually affects the lungs and brain. If not given proper and timely treatment, the patient might even die. The symptoms of the disease include breathing difficulty, narrowing of eyes and swelling of the face.

In case the fungus reaches the eyes, there are chances of the person becoming blind and if the fungus reaches the brain then it can be fatal.

Over 60 patients waiting for surgery

Dr Patel said so far more than 40 patients suffering from this disease have come to his hospital and over 60 patients are waiting for the surgery. Patients are coming not only from Surat but also from Saurashtra, Ahmedabad and districts of the bordering state of Maharashtra.

After the surgery, the patient needs to be given 4 to 5 injections a day for one and a half months and there is already a shortage of injection.

Seven patients lost eyesight in just one hospital

Kiran hospital’s eye specialist Dr Sankit Shah said this is a serious disease that is observed in patients after recovering from COVID-19. Recently, seven patients lost their eyesight even after the surgery done in the hospital.

He said if the patient is not given timely treatment, the fungus can even reach the brain which can prove fatal. Swelling in the eyes, diplopia, hazy vision, popping out of eyeballs are some of the symptoms of the disease.

Symptoms of Mucormycosis

COVID patients or those who have recovered from it, are above the age of 40 years, suffering from diabetes and have low immunity are found to be suffering from sinus infection causing running nose, blocked nose, foul smell from the nose, and difficulty in breathing.

These are some of the symptoms of Mucormycosis. Some people also have dark patches on their nose and cheek. If any of these symptoms are observed, a person must consult an ENT specialist immediately.

Surgery is expensive

It is significant to note that this disease is found in patients not only in Surat but also in other parts of the country which is under the grip of coronavirus pandemic.

Surgery in this disease costs anything between Rs 5.5 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh. The patient needs to be given four to five injections every day for one and a half months costing about Rs 1.5 lakh. The cost of the injection is between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000.

Cases of fungal infection also reported from Bhavnagar

In Bhavnagar too people who have recovered from COVID have become victims of fungal infection.

Of more than 50 suffering from this infection, about 30 have lost their eyesight because of steroid given to them for treatment of COVID-19.

Ten persons have lost hearing while 10 others are suffering from a problem in their throats.

Bhavnagar’s Bajrangdas hospital’s doctor Darshan Shukla told ETV Bharat that steroid has side effects but there is no alternative to steroid while treating a coronavirus patient.

The steroid has effects on eyesight, hearing ability and problems of the throat.

He has come across more than 30 such patients and it is estimated that there could be more than 50 patients in the city suffering from fungal infection.