Is White Fungus Really Dangerous Than Black Fungus???

At a time when states are witnessing a rise in black fungus (mucormycosis) cases, a disease primarily affecting immunocompromised Covid-19 patients, reports of another fungal infection, called "white fungus" have caused a stir.

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The first reports of 'white fungus' came from Patna, Bihar. However, the government-run Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) dismissed these reports.

Now, a fresh case of so-called white fungus has been detected in Uttar Pradesh.

 White fungus is just a myth and misconception. It is basically candidiasis, a fungal infection caused by a type of fungus called Candida. It is the most common fungal infection," said infectious diseases specialist Dr Ishwar Gilada.

The experts also said there was no basis to reports that “white fungus” is more dangerous than black fungus.

Dr Kapil Salgia, pulmonologist at the Bombay Hospital, who has been treating black fungus patients, said mucormycosis was more invasive and might cause lot of damage to sinuses, eyes, brain and requires extensive surgery.

“Mucormycosis is more dangerous because it is normally not found in the human system, and we normally do not see many cases. Candidiasis is easily diagnosed and easily treated. Most of the times, it is not life threatening, unless you miss treatment or symptoms completely and it becomes invasive," Dr Kapil Salgia said.

Those with frail immunity, suffering from diabetes and have been on steroids during Covid-19 treatment for a long period are vulnerable to candidiasis.

"When Covid-19 becomes severe in patients and they become hypoxic, steroids are one of the mainstays of treatment besides antivirals and antibiotics. That predisposes the development of a fungal infection depending on the dosages of steroids given and how long they have been given. Steroids cause suppression of immunity," said Dr Ishwar Gilada.

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Experts said the most common candidiasis infection is oral thrush. "This infection generally affects areas or parts of the body that have a thin lining, mucocutaneous junctions like lips, nose, or inside the mouth and genital area," Dr Gilada, known to be the first person to raise the alarm against AIDS in India, said.

He said the warning signs to look out for are headache, pain in one side of the face, swelling, loss of vision or diminishing vision and ulcer in mouth. A simple microscopic examination under 10 per cent KOH (potassium hydroxide) can be done to detect the infection, Dr Gilada said.

Dr Kapil Salgia said simple infection due to candida is more easily manageable clinically that black fungus. "For candidiasis there are many drugs. The most common is fluconazole and it settles down quite easily," he said.