Mumbai: Maharashtra has reported a rise in Mucormycosis cases among people who have recovered from Covid-19.
At present, 26 patients have been admitted to KEM Hospital of Mumbai Municipal Corporation and 25 patients have been admitted to Parel Global Hospital. A total of seven patients from both these hospitals have lost their eyes.
The state government and the Covid Task Force now need to take immediate steps to bring the disease under control, Dr Milind Navlakhe, an ear-nose-throat specialist at Global Hospital, told ETV Bharat.
Invasive fungi are turning out to be deadly
Mucormycosis is a contagious, fungal disease. This disease has existed for a very long time and involves two types of fungi. The fungus enters the nose of Covid-19 patients with weakened immunity and then spreads to the ears, eyes, and brain.
It is very important to go to the doctor as soon as the first symptoms appear, consisting of swelling of the nose, sinus problems and red eyes. Otherwise, patients can lose their eyes, nose and scalp. But if the treatment is delayed for a while it can also lead to severe brain-related issues leading to death. The mortality rate from this disease is 50 percent, says Dr Navlakhe.
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At the same time, there are two types of mucus fungi, invasive and superficial. Superficial fungi are not as deadly and they can be removed by surgery. But now patients are being infected with the invasive fungus in large numbers and this type is deadlier, said Dr Hetal Marfatia, head of the ENT department, KEM Hospital.
8 to 10 patients a day?
The disease is chronic and yearly about 8 to 10 patients were admitted to the KEM for treatment before the pandemic. But now there are 5 to 7 patients a day, said Dr Hetal.
Dr Navlakhe said the brain of 10 patients in KEM suffered injuries and 5 patients have lost their eyes. According to Dr Hetal, 3 out of 5 have lost one eye and 2 have lost both eyes. Dr Navlakhe said 2 people from Global lost their eyesight and 6 people lost their scalp.
Importantly, before the pandemic, they used to have patients over 40 years of age, but now there are more young people between the ages of 20 and 35.
Recently for the first time, I have treated an 11-year-old girl, Dr Hetal said. He also emphasized the seriousness of the disease, saying that children have never had the disease. But at the same time, it is reassuring that no deaths have been reported in Mumbai so far. Keep the sugar under control and avoid junk food, Dr Hetal said.
The Mucormycosis disease is mainly caused by diabetes
The immune system of people who are diabetic and have recovered from the corona is weakened and the mucus fungus enters the nose and worsens the disease. In this case, whether the patient recovered from corona or the one who is suffering from diabetes, they need to keep their body sugar under control. So, everyone should take care not to contract diabetes. Dr Hetal advises avoiding junk food, exercise regularly and eat nutritious good food.
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Cost of treatment
The treatment for Mucormycosis is very expensive. The medicine and machinery used for it are costly. Patients have to stay in the hospital for one to one and a half months. Sometimes it costs 80 to 90 thousand rupees per day.
The number of patients is increasing and the question arises as to how the needy patients will be able to spend so much.
The State government should now pay considerable attention to this disease and try to prevent it, doctors say.
