Abstract

COMPROMISED IMMUNITY AND MUCORMYCOSIS CASES IN HIMACHAL PRADESH DURING COVID PANDEMIC: A REVIEW

Sanjay Kumar Narang*, M. L. Thakur and Kiran Chauhan

ABSTRACT

Fungi have played an important role in the earth crust formation and have been evolved 400 million years ago. It decomposes organic litter and recycle the nutrients locked up in the leaves and wood. People encounter fungi more often in their kitchens, when fruits rot or the bread turns moldy. Like most fungi, mucor produces millions of microscopic spherical, dark-hued structures called spores, which are dispersed in air. When the spores land on moist surfaces, like soil or plant material, they begin to germinate and produce thread like structures called mycelia. The mycelia branch out and feed on sugars in their surroundings and grow. When a patient whose immune system has been compromised inhales mucor spores, they may develop mucormycosis. This is a rare, non-contagious disease but it can be debilitating or fatal if not treated quickly. The frequency of mucormycosis infections has increased in the last decade, principally because of the greater number of organ transplants. People suffering from COVID-19, HIV/AIDS and other viral diseases, congenital bone marrow disease, severe burns, cancers and untreated or irregularly treated diabetes have reduced immunity and are more prone to developing mucormycosis. COVID-19 patients who have received steroids are particularly at risk because steroids suppress the immune system. This is why steroids should not be used unless absolutely necessary. In this review an attempt has been made to corelate the covid infection recovery and mucormycosis cases from Himachal Pradesh, India. The fungus invades the sinus and makes its way into the intraorbital and intracranial regions.

Keywords: Mucormycosis, Covid, intraorbital, Daibetes.