Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Medical College (GMC) Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar on Wednesday said that there have been no deaths due to black fungus in the State but one patient who was infected by mucormycosis died due to severe COVID-19.
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According to Bandekar, six cases of black fungus were detected by ENT department of GMC within a span of 10 days. All the patients were undergoing treatment for Coronavirus.
Three patients immediately underwent endoscopic radical debridement of mucormycosis and one of the patients succumbed to severe COVID-19 infection, Bandekar said, adding that the deceased’s CTSS (computed tomography svererity score) score was as high as 24 of the maximum 25, an effective tool in assessing severity of disease burden.
“The patient hailing from South Goa district died because of severe COVID-19 infection though he was infected with black fungus,” he said.
The condition of the other two patients, who also underwent endoscopic radical debridement of mucormycosis is improving and another patient will undergo surgery by Thursday.
Two other suspected patients, including a woman, are being investigated and they are on medical treatment, Dr Bandekar said.
The GMC Dean said that COVID-19 patients with diabetics and steroid therapy have a high chance of getting infected by black fungus. The symptoms include headache, fever, nasal congestion and pain under the eyes with partial loss of vision.
