Facial, speech problems among after-effects of black fungus infection: Study

People who suffered from mucormycosis and recovered continue to battle longterm health effects of the fungal infection such as facial disfigurement and speech difficulty found an ICMR studyThere was an uptick in cases of mucormycosis a rare infection also known as Black Fungus during the COVID19 pandemicPublished last month in Clinical Microbiology and Infection a leading microbiology journal the study found that 147 per cent of 686 hospitalised mucormycosis patients died within a year with most deaths occurring during initial hospitalisationCritical predictors of poor survival included involvement of the brain or eyes intensive care admission poor glycaemic control and comorbid conditionsConversely patients who received both surgical treatment and combination antifungal therapy had significantly higher survival rates said Dr Rizwan Suliankatchi Abdulkader from ICMRs National Institute of Epidemiology NIE the lead author of the studyBut survivors often faced disfigurement and psychological distress with more than 70 per cent reporting at least one clinical sequela complication or disability and a substantial proportion experiencing loss of employment Rizwan saidThese are not abstract complications Facial disfigurement impaired speech anxiety and loss of livelihood are lived realities for many survivors It is time for India to move beyond lifesaving interventions and focus on liferestoring systems of care including mental health support and rehabilitation he saidLed by Rizwan and the AllIndia Mucormycosis Consortium the study assessed survival treatment outcomes and postrecovery quality of life among hospitalised patients in IndiaThis largescale study covering 686 patients from 26 tertiary hospitals across the country is the first of its kind to offer longterm prospective data on this critical public health concernAs a part of the study 686 patients who had contracted mucormycosis between March and July 2021 were followed up for one year Of the 686 80 per cent 549 also had COVID19The prevalence of mucormycosis varies significantly from 001 to 2 cases per million in developed countries to 140 cases per million in India and similar nations with incidence approximately 80 times higher in India Despite advances in medical care mucormycosis remains a highly lethal and debilitating conditionThis study reinforces the pressing need to ensure access to timely diagnosis surgical interventions and combination antifungal therapy in all parts of India said Dr Manoj Murhekar Director of Chennaibased ICMRNIEWe cannot overstate how essential highquality multidisciplinary care is for patients battling mucormycosis especially given the irreversible complications they face if treatment is delayed said Murhekar a senior author of the studySpanning the length and breadth of India the study involved institutions from nearly every region capturing a diverse and realistic picture of mucormycosis management in both urban and rural populationsRizwan stressed This is not just a story of numbers Behind every data point is a person who struggled with pain disfigurement and longterm disability Our duty as clinicians and public health professionals is to reduce not just mortality but also the suffering that comes with survivalIndia has a disproportionately high burden of this disease Our health systems must be better preparedThe research comes at a time when India is still grappling with the longterm fallout of the COVID19 pandemic during which mucormycosis surged dramaticallyAs the global community turns its attention to pandemic preparedness and health system resilience the study serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges posed by neglected fungal diseasesWe hope our findings will serve as a call to action for policymakers hospital administrators and clinicians Mucormycosis is not just a complication of COVID19 It is a disease that demands longterm clinical attention public health surveillance and above all compassion in care Rizwan saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever