Representative picture.
(Sulav Shrestha / Xinhua / IANS)
After doctors at a Delhi hospital identified multiple cases of fatal fungal infections in the recovery of coronavirus patients that resulted in loss of vision, the government said Tuesday that it was a “devastating disease” and people were more cautious have to stay.
“This is a devastating disease and it is not easy to cure. We have to be careful. This could be a mild disease, but it can also take a serious turn. This was also the case in the absence of Covid-19,” said Dr. VK Paul, Member, Health, told NITI Aayog at a news conference.
ENT surgeons at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital experienced 13 cases of Covid-19-induced mucormycosis or black fungus that caused nearly half of patients to lose their eyesight, hospital authorities said Monday.
Mucormycosis has long been the cause of illness and death in transplant patients, as well as those in intensive care units and those with immunodeficiency. However, it is the rapid rise in the numbers of unexpected COVID-19 patients that is creating the serious concern, the hospital said in a statement.
Mortality is currently in the 50 percent range (five patients), with certain deaths involving the brain, authorities said.
One such case involves a 32-year-old patient recovering from Covid who was admitted to the SGRH emergency room a few days ago in a partially disoriented state.
“An MRI showed that the infection had already destroyed a significant part of his left sinuses, eye, maxilla and muscles, and even got into his brain. He then had to take the life-saving antifungal drug and he will soon be in a viable but disfigured state released “, had Dr. Manish Munjal, senior ENT surgeon at SGRH, said.
“The frequency with which we observe the occurrence of Covid-induced mucormycosis with high morbidity and mortality has never been seen before and is shocking and alarming,” said Dr. Prakash Shastri, Vice Chairman, Intensive Care Unit, SGRH.
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The above article was published by a wire agency with minimal changes to the headline and text.