New Delhi : Amid Covid-19 scares, a rare case of Mucormycosis was detected in a patient after his recovery from Dengue by a Delhi-based private hospital on Saturday.
The patient, a 49-year-old resident of Greater Noida, came to the hospital complaining of a sudden loss of vision from one eye post 15 days of recovery from Dengue, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said in a statement.
“Before coming to the hospital the patient had an episode of nasal bleeding as a complication owing to Dengue 15 days prior to his recovery, wherein he noted low count of platelets with no transfusion history. Mucormycosis in his case is a resultant factor of compromised immunity owing to Dengue,” the hospital added.
Doctors are calling the case “rarest of rare”.
Dr Suresh Singh Naruka, Senior ENT Consultant at the hospital, who is supervising the case, said Mucormycosis AKA Black Fungus was found as a post-recovery complication in the patient.
“A rare case of black fungus or Mucormycosis came into our view when Mr Talib Mohammad came to the hospital reporting a sudden loss of vision from one eye post dengue fever. It is rarest of rare to see mucormycosis as a post-recovery complication in a dengue patient, as this condition is generally seen in people who have a history of diabetes, compromised immunity and various other infections,” he explained.
“A deadly infection caused by a group of fungus called Mucor. This fungus invades into the healthy tissues of the nose, sinuses, eye and brain so rapidly that any delay in diagnosis and management can lead to adverse long term complications,” he added.
Adding further, Dr Atul Ahuja, Senior Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, of Apollo, said, diagnosing and managing a case of rhino-orbital (involving nose and eye) mucormycosis in a patient who has just recovered from dengue fever is very important.
“Even after best treatment, patients of mucormycosis can lose their eyesight permanently and in a state of an aggressive infection, removal of the eye becomes necessary for preventing any further spread of infection,” Ahuja said further.
During the second wave of Coronavirus, a large number of cases of black fungus were reported throughout the country among COVID-19 patients suffering from chronic diabetes.
Mucormycosis post dengue is a new observation and hence patients having a recent history of dengue should remain actively updated about their health and consult a healthcare expert immediately after noticing any new symptoms, the doctors said.
