After cases of Black Fungus in Andhra Pradesh, the neighbouring Telugu State,the Telangana Medical Department alerted the concerned personnel and hospitals.
Amid the second wave of the Wuhan virus or the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19,) people are now also worried about the new post Coronavirus infection, Black Fungus. The infection is a threat to the ones who recovered from the deadly Wuhan virus. The major reason behind these side effects are the usage of steroid drugs to cure those infected with the Wuhan virus. The steroids help with the breathing difficulty, however the same steroids make the body susceptible to the fungus– which is already in the soil and can be airborne.
The Telangana Government asked people to be cautious and safe from COVID-19, following which people are being infected of Black Fungus. Though there are no officially announced cases of the new infection, the symptoms of Black Fungus are witnessed in some regions of Telangana. Patients suffering from the Wuhan virus in Adilabad, Khammam and Rajanna Sircilla districts are showing symptoms of Black Fungus.
In regard to this, the Telangana Public Health Department said it had instructed all public and private hospitals on the precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus.
Hospitals like King KotiHospital, ENT Hospital and Gandhi Hospital have been set up to provide free treatment to those affected by Black Fungus.
In addition, on the 17th of May, the Telangana High Court (HC) while reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the State, asked the Telangana Government about Black Fungus. The HC bench directed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Government to submit an affidavit, with a detailed report of how the State Government is planning to control Black Fungus. The bench led by Chief Justice Hima Kohli, asked the advocate general (AG) B.S. Prasad, who was representing the TRS to inform whether the COVID-19 kit has steroids.
In addition, Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao, the Director of Public Health in Telangana, issued detailed steps and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to prevent Mucormycosis (Black Fungus) during COVID-19 treatment.
The eight point SOPs : better control of the sugar levels during COVID with or without steroids, judicious use of steroids observing correct timing, correct dose and correct duration, judicious use of antibiotics or antifungals and to use clean, sterile water for humidifiers during the oxygen therapy.
Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao said, “Once a week (for the same patient) and in between patients, all the components of the humidifier should be soaked in a mild antiseptic solution for 30 minutes, rinsed with clean water and dried in air. Medical superintendents of all private hospitals shall ensure strict implementation of above guidelines.”
Besides Black Fungus, people who recovered from the Wuhan virus are having other side effects like loss of eyesight, swelling faces, complete closure of the nose, swelling of eyes, diabetes and blood pressure issues.
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