April 18, 2026

Mucormycosis Strikes Covid Patients With Co-morbidities

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First publised on 2020-12-18 07:15:42

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It is well known that persons with co-morbidities have a tough time surviving a coronavirus infection. Even if they survive, their recovery process is long and riddled with complications. Now, a new infection has been discovered that is making life hell, even killing, coronavirus survivors with co- morbidities.

Five such patients suffered from mucormycosis, a rare fungal infection. Two of them died while another two survived but lost their vision.  Mucormycosis is a serious infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. They mainly affect people with low immunity or those who have other health problems.

In the cases reported in Ahmedabad, Dr. Parth Rana, a retina and ocular trauma surgeon, said that all 5 had a history of uncontrolled diabetes and were on strong drugs, including steroids, which had lowered their immunity. According to Dr. Rana, that was the main reason why they got infected and the infection spread so rapidly.

Although experts had earlier flagged the concern of other fungal infections in coronavirus patients, Dr. Atul Patel, a leading infectious disease specialist, who was part of a national study on mucormycosis, says that 19 cases of the infection have been reported in Covid-19 recovered patients in the past three months which is 4.5 times higher than normal.

Since mucormycosis is a serious, life-threatening infection, coronavirus patients, especially those with comorbiditie,s must take extra care to prevent it. The infection usually attacks the paranasal sinus and sometimes affects the eyes, jaws and lungs. So patients should keep their sugar in control and consult an ENT or eye specialist immediately if they have problems.