The Ghost of COVID-19: Tackling what lingers behind
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks and observing social distance has become an accepted norm in all countries across the globe. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India, Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA, and regulatory bodies in other countries have emphasized the need for wearing masks and social distancing as important factors for disease control.
Most infections can be avoided by taking proper precautionary measures, but we are often faced with various conditions when the body’s immune system is compromised. Recovering from COVID-19 continues to be an exhausting task. The body is left in a vulnerable state after recovering. It takes a long time for the body to completely recover from all the associated debilitating conditions and heavy use of steroids. These can give rise to other disease conditions and organ failures. The human body houses various types of organisms that are good for our health. However, when the body’s immune system is compromised, certain opportunistic infections cause harm, and eventually, the body starts showing symptoms such as redness near the eyes and black patches on the skin. Mucormycosis is one such fungal infection, which normally does not affect people but arises only when the human body’s immune system has been breached. The disease is mainly caused by the mucormycetes group and rhizopus species of fungal mold.
These fungal spores are already present in the environment around us. They enter our body through a break in any mucous membrane, the skin, or the respiratory tract. The human body provides a warm and moist environment for the fungus to multiply. People who require steroids for disease control are also prone to be affected by this fungus. Once the fungus multiplies in the body, it spreads to different parts of the body.
“The black fungus spores are already present in the environment around us. They become harmful only when the body’s immune system is weak.”
In addition to the burden of fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic because of the Coronavirus, the world is now also seeing an increase in the spread of the black fungus. The scientific community, through rigorous research, has developed vaccines to fight the virus. International and national health bodies along with the ministries of Health have emphasized strict norms like wearing masks and observing physical distance to curb the spread of the virus. Empower is working with various such bodies to help nations prepare in crisis situations like these.
The spread of Mucormycosis or Black Fungus is now being noticed among the general population. This disease is caused by the mucormycetes group and rhizopus species of fungal mold. Like the coronavirus, the spread of this disease can be avoided by taking proper care and precautionary measures.
Mucormycosis or Black Fungus
The black fungus spores are already present in the environment around us. They enter our body through a break in any mucous membrane, the skin, or the respiratory tract. The human body provides a warm and moist environment for the fungus to multiply. People who require steroids for disease control are also prone to be affected by this fungus. Once it multiplies in one organ of the body, it spreads to different parts of the body.
How do we know it is Mucormycosis?
The symptoms of this disease are difficult to attribute solely to this disease. Self-diagnosis is not possible for Mucormycosis, and you must contact your doctor for proper guidance.
Depending on the region of the body which was first affected and allowed the entry of the spores, here are a few symptoms that are generally observed for this disease:
Who is more prone to Mucormycosis?
Since the organism for this disease already resides in minimal amounts in each one of us, people whose immune systems are weak are affected the most. This includes patients with a history of infection, burn victims, cancer patients, those with uncontrolled blood sugar levels, malnourished people, newborn babies, and aged individuals. Visit your doctor as soon as any symptom is observed.
How can I prevent it?
A healthy diet will contribute to a healthy immune system. If you are someone who is suffering from a chronic illness, you can avoid venturing out in the open and avoid contact with dust and soil. Always wear clothes with long sleeves in case you have exposed wounds. Practice washing hands and keeping your surroundings clean. This will help in preventing the spores from entering the body and causing the disease.
Most infections can be prevented by being aware of the risk factors that we must avoid. Empower aims to empower people across various countries and organizations to create sustainable systems of knowledge sharing and learning. This in turn helps to build individual health and community health at large.
About the Author — Dr. Rishika Dey
Dr. Rishika Dey works with the Empower School of Health. Her background in healthcare and interest in public health helps in transforming lives for the better. Empower works to strengthen the institutional and HR capacity of global health & humanitarian programs through digital learning.
