Tartous-Sana
The number of people infected with black fungus in the General Authority of Al-Basel Hospital in Tartous during the past two months has reached four people, two of whom died, while two patients are still receiving treatment in the isolation department and are in good condition currently.
And the director general of the authority, Dr. Iskandar Ammar, said in a statement to SANA reporter that the two patients receiving treatment had a comprehensive injury to the maxillary sinus and parts of the nasal septum. Surgical treatment and tissue debridement were carried out in addition to drug treatment. The infection with the black fungus extends to the brain and loses consciousness and he died due to the neurological injury. The fourth case is of a patient who was reviewed in a bad general condition with diabetic acidosis and severe respiratory failure. The injury extended from the maxillary sinus towards the pilgrims (the eye) and she died directly as a result of the sequelae of corona infection.
Ammar pointed out that black fungus is a common term for a type of fungus that is scientifically known as mucormycosis. Just explaining that the reason for calling it this name is because when it affects the tissues, it causes infarction, necrosis and thrombosis, and some of the affected tissues are colored black, especially in the pattern that affects the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and sinuses.
Ammar clarified that despite the widespread spread of black fungus, the possibility of infection by immunocompromised persons is very rare, noting that the infection of mucormycosis is more often seen in immunocompromised patients, such as patients with uncontrolled diabetes, especially those associated with ketoacidosis, and the random use of antibiotics and cancer patients, especially those who They have moderate deficiency and are treated with antibiotics in addition to people receiving immunosuppressive drugs such as oral and systemic steroids, severely malnourished, burn patients and intravenous drug users.
Regarding the symptoms of black fungus infection, Ammar said: “The symptoms vary according to the site of infection, and the most common sites of infection are the nasopharyngeal form of the disease, which is manifested by swelling in the pilgrims, facial pain, nasal congestion, black necrotic corneas, necrosis of the soft palate, a feeling of numbness, fever, epistaxis and cranial nerve paralysis. Loss of consciousness and then death, pointing out that the disease may affect the lungs, the digestive system, the skin and any other place in the body.
Ammar noted that mold infections have recently spread with the recent waves of Corona due to the large and indiscriminate use of antibiotics and systemic and oral steroids, especially in immunodeficiency patients such as patients with uncontrolled diabetes.