Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV/SP)
Mangaluru, May 24: Even as the health department strives to contain the spiking cases of coronavirus in the district, cases of mucormycosis (black fungus) are fast becoming a challenge for the district administration and health officials.
As many as 15 cases have been identified as black fungus in Dakshina Kannada, of which, three cases are suspected of black fungus and the patients are under observation. Two deaths due to the fungal infection have been reported in the district so far.
Speaking to daijiworld, district health officer (DHO) Dr Kishore Kumar informed that of the 12 cases reported in the district, three are suspected to be mucormycosis. Two deaths have been reported. One patient was from Chitradurga and another one from Dakshina Kannada. Out of the 15 cases, six are of Dakshina Kannada, and 9 cases from others districts, DHO said.
He also confirmed that there are no cases of white fungal infection in the district.
It may be recalled that the union government has asked the states to make mucormycosis a notifiable disease. In most cases, the infection is found in patients who were in ventilators and undergoing steroid therapy. Prevention is possible in the early stages.
Surgeries fare better as compared to injections
In the government hospital, black fungus is treated with injections. But every day six vials of the injection are required per patient per day and so many injections are not available. Because of shortage of injections, efforts are made to treat the disease with tablets. But under this method, the recovery is slow and treatment of four to six weeks is required, the officials stated.
The private doctors have to register their needs in the government medicines portal and seek injections for the black fungus. Because of this procedure, there is always a shortfall of stock.
The method of performing surgery through the nasal cavity has been most effective. The affected spot is cut off through the surgery performed through the ventilation pipe. Once the surgery is performed, the patient will be put on tablets and injections will not be needed.
DHO Dr Kishore stated that the affected membrane inside the nose is detected through X-ray and scanning, and the same is removed through surgery. By following this method, the disease can be stopped from entering eyes, brain etc, he added.