COVID-19 and the alarming rise of "Black Fungus" (Mucormycosis) infection

Abstract

COVID-19 which first raised its deadly head in December 2019, has now engulfed the entire planet with its fire and fury. Mankind has been literally held to ransom by this micro-beast which has caused so much pain, sorrow and suffering, leaving behind scores of people dead and millions sick and gasping for air (quite literally!) The whole world is in disarray since the past 16 months, and now a new deadly superadded fungal infection has appeared in COVID-19 patients, in parts of the Indian subcontinent; namely Mucormycosis, the deadly "Black Fungus". This persistent, unrelenting fungal infection which is relatively resistant to conventional anti-fungal treatment, sometimes requires radical, extensive surgical intervention in order to stem the spread of infection to vital organs such as the heart, brain, orbital spaces and spleen. Mucormycosis has been increasingly seen to occur in COVID-19 patients who are immunocompromised and have uncontrolled diabetes mellitus as a comorbidity. Commonly seen forms of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients include, Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis and Pulmonary Mucormycosis, with some patients also developing the cutaneous form, while some manifesting the more serious disseminated form of mucormycosis.