MUCORMYCOSIS'THE BLACK FUNGUS'

      MUCORMYCOSIS is a rare fungal infection caused by a group of fungi known as mucormycetes.These fungi are omnipresent.They live in soil,on rotten wood and compost.It leads to necrotic blue tissue at the infected site,hence the name.                                             

     The tissues include head and neck including nose,orbits,facial bones and possible intracranial spread.The disease causes high morbidity and mortality.The disease has been found to be linked to COVID-19 infections caused by the B.1.617.2-DELTA Variant.                   MUCORMYCOSIS has a mortality rate of 17-51%.in case there is diagnostic delay of more than 5 days,the mortality rate is higher.people with co-morbidities like hypertension,       diabetes ,heart-disease ,etc are at increasing risk.             

         Tissue biopsy may be done to under a microscope to detect the fungal causative agent.CT can detect MUCORMYCOSIS with 100% sensitivity. Overall 101 cases of MUCORMYCOSIS have been reported in people with COVID -19 .Among these 82 were reported from India and 19 from rest of the world. it was predominantly seen in males. Treatment:Anti-fungal medicines like Amphotericin-B,Posaconazole,etc are preferred.It is presumed that the uncontrollable use of antibiotics and steroids during COVID-19 has resulted in this serious condition hence there rational use is the need of hour.                                                                                    There is no need to panic.one should wear face masks and maintain personal hygiene.one should not take steroids unnecessarily and hope for the best but should prepare for the worst.