MUCORMYCOSIS- BLACK FUNGUS

 

MUCORMYCOSIS is a very well-known fungal infection, which is previously called zygomycosis caused by a fungus called Mucor. This fungus belongs to a group called mucormycocytes. Most of the fungal species are found throughout the environment but act under favorable conditions. The mycelia or the body fragments or spores of fungus grow on a suitable host

such as a person with weak immunity.  This deadly fungus can complete its life cycle on the same host if conditions are favorable for this parasite, most of the fungus needs carbonic substance, dead cell or ruptured tissues for the growth and Common sources of infections are from the soil, damp walls of old buildings, etc.

Types-  

1-         Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucorMycosis

2-         Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis

3-         Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis

4-         Gastrointestinal mucormycosis

5-         Disseminated mucormycosis

Signs and symptoms-They may not grow very quickly because it may take a few days to over a week in many people before the signs develop.

1-         Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis - This fungus first infects or attacks on nasal sinus through the nasal orifice then to the brain this is called rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Congestion is felt in the nose after the attack of the fungus and swelling may be noticed, swelling can be both sides but mostly one-sided.

After few hours to a few days’ black lesions on the nasal cavity and upper inside of the mouth (Palette) will be seen. After that fever will start, this can be serious.

2- Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis - After infection of nasal cavity and palette fungus reach to the lungs through inspiration and swallowing, cause chest pain, congestion of chest and breathlessness or shortness of breath.

3- Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis- Fungus produce cutaneous symptoms like blisters, ulcers, and blackening of the infected area with swelling, redness, pain, and feeling of heath around the infected area.

4- Gastrointestinal mucormycosis- The fungus may produce gastrointestinal symptoms like pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, bloating of the abdomen, and the last gastrointestinal bleeding.

5-Disseminated mucormycosis- When the infection spreads through the circulation of blood and affects another part of the body. The infection usually affects the brain, but also can affect other organs such as the spleen, heart, and skin

Causes – Most of the molds are grow well in damp and humid areas especially on compost, dung, rotten leaves, rotten soil, and other decomposed organic matter, it may well grow in weak, dead, and rupture tissues of a living being.

Causes of infection in covid patients –   

There are some reasons for this-

1-  Unhygienic atmosphere of the hospital.

2-  Collecting waste inside the room.

3-  If do not clean beds again and again.

4-  If do not change the clothes of patients.

5-  Weak immunity of patients due to over dose of steroids.

       6-  If do not disinfect the patient from time to time

7-  If do not change the water of the oxygen cylinder. If poorly clean the oxygen mask.            

8-  History of overuse of cell phone (watching videos).

9-  Poor oral hygiene.

10- Tearing and cuts on the body.

11- Use of industrial oxygen instead of medical oxygen.

12- Patient with other serious illnesses like Diabetes, cancer, burn other eye infections, etc.

Diagnosis of mucormycosis-

It is very difficult to diagnose especially the genus of fungus infecting the patients but few no. of diagnoses like CT, MRI, blood test, and biopsy are quite helpful, with these techniques we can see the severity and extent of tissue destruction.

Can mucormycosis develop other conditions?

It spread very quickly throughout the body and infect the whole internal systems, the infection can spread to the lungs and brain and cause serious damage to our body

1-  Pneumonia

2-  A brain infection

3-  Loss of vision

4-  Seizures

5-  Paralysis of multiple organs and extremities

How to avoid mucormycosis (black fungus)-          

1-  Keep the surrounding environment healthy and clean

2-  Use all instruments after sterilization

3-  Control your sugar level   

4-  Do not use the steroid too much

5-  Use sterilized water and mask during oxygen therapy

6-  Carefully use the antibiotic and antifungal medicines

7-  Avoid area full of dust humidity and dark

8-  Always stay in the ventilated and airy room

9-  Wear gloves when carrying anything especially soil, spoiled wood

10- Must clean your hand with soap and injuries with spirit and calendula Q

 

Treatment –

Amphotericin B- An anti-fungal medication used for serious case             

      

Cresemba (Isavuconazonium sulfate)- A systemic antifungal medicine used in mucormycosis

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENTS-

Agaricus muscarius- Skin complain start in the form of chilblains and itching, the affected parts are red, hot, and swollen.

Apis mallifica – Suited to oedematous skin and very sensitive to touch. Stinging and burning pain extends from right to left. All complaints aggravate at night, covering and heat.

Arnica montana – It is great medicine for injury but injury of all kinds and acts on the blood and blood vessels particularly on capillaries. It is an antiseptic and anti-traumatic medicine. In this medicine, the affected parts are very sensitive to touch and painful.

Arsenicum album – Painful black eruption with burning sensation, there may be pustules and vesicles. Black vesicles cause burning pain with very offensive discharge. Suitable for gangrenous condition.

Calendula officinalis – Prepared from leaves and flowers of marigold and suitable for all kinds of injuries and act as an anti-septic drug. Calendula mother tincture can apply to any type of injury and infections of the skin. It is a great healing agent in homeopathic materia medica

Cantharides – Vesicular eruption with itching and burning pain, burning in every part of the body is very well marked in this medicine it is eligible to heel such skin diseases caused by insect bite also as well as infectious disease.

Carbo vegitabilis – Great medicine for degenerative changes of the skin, especially for cyanosed skin where oxygen supply reduced and becomes gangrenous due to feeble circulation. Act upon mucus membrane.

Cicuta virosa –This medicine is suitable for the infected part is hard, with lemon-colored crust. There is no itching in the infected part. This medicine is more affected when infection occurs on the mandibular region

Dulcamara –Very well medicine suited for post covid black fungus infection when an infection caused due to the effect of damp, wet and cold environment. Eruptions that are coming out upon the face, head, nose, and scalp but especially on the cheeks

Graphites – It is a great remedy for all kinds of skin eruptions. Medicine used for eruption, fibroma, eczema, cancer stage of skin which have painful cicatrices, all the skin eruptions have watery, transparent, sticky fluid.

Heper sulph – it’s a great remedy for eruption or infected part is filled with yellow pus and very sensitive to touch.

Mercurius solubilis- It’s a king of anti-syphilitic remedies. Its sphere of action is every tissue and organ of the body. It is a very suitable medicine when ulceration of the mouth may occur and ulceration inside the oral cavity Its cover the symptoms, when blood decomposes due to any cause and anaemia, is prominent

Rhus tox. – Skin of Rhus tox is inflamed, swollen with burning and itching, all complaints of the skin worse at night and cold, wet and rainy weather.

Sarsaparilla – It’s a good blood purifier in homeopathic materia medica, can prescribe along with other medicine.

Sulfur – It’s a great polychrest remedy. It is the king of anti psoric medicine. It has a wide range of action on skin affection. Its sphere of action is centrifugal from within outward. Its act also upon the venous capillary system and through it effecting profoundly the vegetative  sphere. This medicine is suited for patients with dirty, filthy looks of the skin.

Secal cornuatum - Useful in shriveled, mottled dusky blue ting. Dry gangrene, developing slowly. The small wound continues to bleed, formication under the skin, small boils painful with green content.

Other Homeopathic medicines are -

Ruta graveolens, Syphilinum, Terentula cubensis, Thuja occidentalis, Anthracinum, Carcinosin, Selenium, Ustilago, Urtica urens, Crotalus horidus, Carbolic acid, Causticum, Mezerium, Petrolium, Silicea, Staphisagria, Aconitum napellus, Anacardium orientale, Rannunculus bulbosus , Antim crudum, X-Ray.