Abstract

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON BLACK FUNGUS

Devyani S. Kutemate*

Abstract

As a rare "opportunistic" fungal disease, the black fungus infection has had a significant impact on post-COVID-19 recoveries and has placed an additional strain on our medical and healthcare management systems. Following the initial phase of COVID-19, the second wave affected many Indians with a mysterious fungal infection known as Mucormycosis. In this review, we examined the clinical pathogenesis, signs, symptoms, and treatment options for black fungus. The findings indicated that the use of immunosuppressants to treat COVID-19 also heightens the risk of infection with mucormycosis. Patients suffering from hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, solid organ or bone marrow transplants, liver cirrhosis, and neutropenia are particularly vulnerable to Mucormycosis molds. Early diagnosis, elimination of predisposing factors, prompt antifungal treatment combined with surgical removal of all infected tissues, and adjunctive therapies are four critical components in the fight against Mucormycosis. Consequently, millions of lives have already been lost. Due to mutations, the virus is continuously altering its characteristics, including the transmission rate, virulence, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations. A recent study found that some COVID-19 patients were also co-infected with a fungal disease known as mucormycosis (black fungus). India has officially classified the black fungus outbreak among COVID-19 patients as an epidemic, with only a few cases reported in other nations. The immune system is compromised by COVID-19 treatments, making it more susceptible to infections such as black fungus (mucormycosis). COVID-19, caused by the B.1.617 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been prevalent in India since April 2021. Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection triggered by exposure to a fungus known as mucormycete.

Keywords: Mucorales; Mucormycosis; Diabetes Mellitus; Black Fungus; Pathogenesis; Diagnosis; Pathophysiology; Treatment.