White Fungus: What Is It And Why Is It More Dangerous Than Black Fungus?

As the central government asks states to notify black fungus or mucormycosis an epidemic, an infection called white fungus has also been found to affect some people. These new cases of white fungus have been found in Patna, Bihar, and this infection is more dangerous than black fungus, Dr Arunesh Kumar, senior consultant & head respiratory medicine/pulmonology, Paras Hospital, has told indianexpress.com. Let's understand more about it.

PTI

How were the white fungus cases detected?

According to a report in Zee News, Dr SN Singh, head of the Microbiology, Department of PMCH who confirmed white fungus cases, said that all four patients showed all the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, but tested negative in every test. The doctor said that during a detailed investigation, it turned out that they were infected with white fungus. However, all the patients as of now are completely fine after being administered the anti-fungal medicines.

Is White Fungus deadlier than Black Fungus?

According to health experts, White Fungus infection is more dangerous than black fungus infection as it not only affects the lungs but other parts of the body such as nails, skin, stomach, kidney, brain, private parts and mouth.

Johns Hopkins (Representational Image)

What are the symptoms of White Fungus?

According to doctors, the symptoms of this rare fungal disease are similar to coronavirus infection. As this attacks the lungs, the disease can be detected by performing HRCT test on an infected patient.

Who is at risk?

As with the black fungus infection those with low immunity are at a greater risk. People with pre-existing medical issues like diabetes or those on steroids for a long time are most likely to get infected with White Fungus.

BCCL

What's the update on black fungus?

The Union Health Ministry urged states and union territories to make black fungus or mucormycosis a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, stating that the infection is leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality amongst COVID-19 patients.

A notifiable disease requires the medical practitioners to notify the government about the disease in a prescribed format within three days or 24 hours, in case of urgency.

The ministry, in a letter, said that in the recent times a new challenge in the form of a fungal infection namely mucormycosis has emerged and is reported from many states among COVID-19 patients, especially those on steroid therapy and deranged sugar control.