90%-95% of mucormycosis patients are either diabetic and/or taking steroids: Dr Randeep Guleria

About 90% – 95% of patients getting infected with mucormycosis are found to have been either diabetic and/or taking steroids and this infection is seen very rarely in those who are neither diabetic nor taking steroids, stated by Dr Randeep Guleria, director, AIIMS, New Delhi, at a media briefing held at the National Media Centre.

Dr Guleria added that mucormycosis is one of the general fungal infections being seen in recovering or recovered Covid-19 patients. The number of cases being reported is increasing, but it is not a communicable disease, meaning it does not spread from one person to another, like Covid-19 does.

Dr Guleria says it is better not to use the term black fungus while talking of mucormycosis, as it leads to a lot of avoidable confusion. “Black fungus is another family; this term got associated with mucormycosis due to the presence of black dots among the culture of white fungal colonies. In general, there are various types of fungal infections such as candida, aspergillosis, cryptococcus, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis. Mucormycosis, candida and aspergillosis are the ones observed more in those with low immunity.”

Speaking about the prevalence of these infections, Dr Guleria said: “Candida fungal infection can manifest with symptoms such as white patches in the mouth, oral cavities and tongue; it can infect private parts and can also be found in the blood (in which case it can become serious). Aspergillosis, which is relatively not common, affects and invades lungs by creating cavities in the lungs. What is observed in Covid-19 is mostly mucormycosis; aspergillosis is observed occasionally, and Candida in some people.”