'Black Fungus' defacing Covid patients: The current menace

Saurabh Prakash 1 and Veena Naik 2, *

1 Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, AIMST University, Jalan Bedong, Semeling, 08100 Bedong, Kedah Darul Aman- Malaysia.
2 Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, AIMST University, Jalan Bedong, Semeling, 08100 Bedong, Kedah Darul Aman- Malaysia.
 
Short Communication
World Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Research, 2022, 02(02), 010–012.
Article DOI: 10.53346/wjbpr.2022.2.2.0021
Publication history: 
Received on 12 February 2022; revised on 30 March 2022; accepted on 01 April 2022
 
Abstract: 
Mucormycosis is a rare but an opportunistic fungal infection. It has recently gained awareness due to its association with covid-19. The main cause is filamentous fungus Rhizopus, which can be inhaled through the nasal passage, oral cavity or even through a cut in the skin, leading to black masses and destruction of bone in hard palate, nasal cavity and skull. Patients suffering from covid-19 are on steroids, which interferes with the patient’s immunity and blood sugar levels leading to spread of black fungus. Hence precise knowledge about black fungus, its mode of transmission and precautions to prevent the infection is considered utmost priority in recent times.
 
Keywords: 
Mucormycosis; Black Fungus; Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis; Pulmonary Mucormycosis; Covid-19; Corticosteroids
 
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