BLACK FUNGUS, BIOLOGY PROJECT
ARMY PUBLIC
SCHOOL
,AGRA

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
2. INTRODUCTION
3. CAUSES
4. SYMPTOMS
5. TREATMENT
6. CASES IN INDIA
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
CONTENT

ACKOWLEDGMENT
I would like to express
my special thanks of
gratitude to my
Biology teacher “Mrs.
Geeta Sahi Ma`am” for
their able guidance
and support in
completing my
project. I would like to
extend my gratitude
to my parents and
friends for helping me
and providing me all
the facilities needed
for this.
RUCHIKA SINGH , 10TH
`B`
Army Public
School.AGRA

INTRODUCT
ION
Mucormycosis, a serious fungal infection
but otherwise rare, has been observed in
a number of Covid-19 patients recently.
While there is no major outbreak, the
national Covid task force has issued an
advisory. A rare but serious fungal
infection, known as mucormycosis and
colloquially as “black fungus”, is being
detected relatively frequently among
Covid-19 patients in some states. The
disease often manifests in the skin and
also affects the lungs and the brain. With
a number of mucormycosis cases
detected in Delhi, Maharashtra and
Gujarat,

WHAT IS
MUCORMYCOSIS?
Although rare, it is a serious
infection. It is caused by a
group of moulds known as
mucormycetes present
naturally in the environment.
It mainly affects people who
are on medication for health
problems that reduces their
ability to fight environmental
pathogens, say experts from
the Covid-19 task force task
force.
Sinuses or lungs of such
individuals get affected after
they inhale fungal spores
from the air. Doctors in some
states have noted a rise in
cases of mucormycosis
among people hospitalized
or recovering from Covid 19,
with some requiring urgent
surgery. Usually,
mucormycetes does not pose
a major threat to those with a
healthy immune system.

CAUSES
Mucormycetes are a type of
mould that causes fungal
infections. These moulds can
be found everywhere in the
environment, including soil,
air, and food. They enter the
body via the nose, mouth, or
eyes and can have an impact
on the brain if it is not
treated on time. According to
medical experts, the main
cause of black fungus
(mucormycosis) is steroid
misuse during COVID
treatment.
Black fungus (mucormycosis)
primarily affects people who
have health problems or who
take medications that reduce
the body's ability to fight
germs and illness. The
person's immunity is low
after covid treatment, which
makes them vulnerable to
black fungus infection.
People with diabetes and
COVID-19 patients are at
greater risk of developing an
infection.

SYMPTO
MS
Fever,headache
Swelling on one side of the face
Pain and redness around the eyes
and nose
Coughing
Shortness of breathe
Bloody vomits
Altered mental status
Discolouration around the bridge of
the nose

CAUTION
If your skin is infected, the
affected area may appear
blistered, red, or swollen.
It may turn black, feel
warm, or be painful.
Through your blood, the
infection can also spread
to other parts of your
body. This is referred to as
disseminated black fungus
(mucormycosis). When this
occurs, the fungus can
attack organs such as your
spleen and heart. In severe
cases, you may experience
mental changes or fall into
a coma. It can even be
fatal.

TREATMENT
Mucormycosis treatment must be fast and aggressive. The concern is
due to the fact that by the time even a presumptive diagnosis is made,
the patient has often suffered significant tissue damage which cannot
be reversed.
Most patients will need surgical and medical treatment.
Most infectious disease experts say that without aggressive surgical
debridement of the infected area, the patient is likely to die.
Medicines play an important role. Two main aims are sought
simultaneously: antifungal drugs to slow or stop the fungal spread
and drugs to treat debilitating underlying diseases.
Amphotericin B (initially intravenous) is the usual drug of choice for
antifungal therapy.
.

MEDICINA
L
TREATME
NT
Posaconazole or isavuconazole can
treat mucormycosis.
Patients may even require an
intravenous antifungal procedure
lasting 4 -6 weeks.
Patients with underlying diseases
like diabetes need to be in optimal
control of their diabetes.
Patients normally on steroids or
taking deferoxamine (Desferal; used
to remove excess iron from the
body) are likely to have these drugs
stopped because they can increase
the survival of fungi in the body.
Patients may need additional
surgeries and usually need
antifungal treatment for an
extended period (weeks to months)
depending on the severity of the
disease

CASES IN
INDIA
Black Fungus, a potentially fatal
condition that is increasingly seen in
recovering Covid patients, with
31,216 cases and 2,109 deaths in
the country has grown over 150 per
cent over the last three weeks,
putting additional stress on an
already embattled healthcare system
fighting off the deadly second surge
of Covid wave.
The increase in numbers is driven,
in part, by severe shortage of the
key drug - Amphotericin-B - to
treat affected patients.

CASES IN
UTTAR
PRADESH
Over 100 people have died of
mucormycosis or black fungus
disease in Uttar Pradesh till date,
according to the state government.
The number of the fungal infection
has also crossed 1,500. However,
the state government on Monday
said that with a sharp decline in
Covid cases in the last few days, the
black fungus cases have also
started to decline.
Most of the mucormycosis cases are
being reported in those above 40
years old who have diabetes. The UP
government categorised
mucormycosis as a “notified
disease” in the third week of May as
cases rose.