Mucormycosis treatable, 17 cases detected in Himachal four died
Himachal Pradesh Health department today said that treatment of Black Fingas is possible as it have various treatment options, Healthdepartment said in an advisory on treatment and management of Covid-19 Associated Mucormycosis (CAM).
The National Task Force on Covid-19 has reviewed the treatment of Covid-19 Associated Mucormycosis and has given recommendations on the various treatment options.
As per the task force Amphotericin B, both in the Amphotericin lipid complex/liposomal and Amphotericin B Deoxycholate forms, is equally efficacious for treatment of CAM cases. However, the latter is more toxic to the kidneys and therefore should be administered along with monitoring of kidneys’ functions and electrolyte imbalance, he added.
A spokesperson of department said that further, measures to reduce nephrotoxicity include slow infusion, 500 ml normal saline along with amphotericin B and premedication to avoid infusion reaction.
Liposomal Amphotericin B is to be preferred in patients who have mucormycosis of the brain or in patients who are intolerant to Amphotericin B deoxycholate.
The joint task force has also recommended that injection Posaconazole can be used in cases of Non-availability of Amphotericin B or in those patients having severe intolerance to Amphotericin B.
He informed that at present, there are 17 cases of CAM in the State, out of which 7 belong to District Kangra, 2 Solan, 2 Shimla, 1 Mandi and 5 Hamirpur, as per the entries done by the Districts or Institution Incharges on Covid-19 portal of India.
Out of these, 4 patients with CAM have unfortunately died in the State. He further added that the use of a clean mask even in the home environment, appropriate dose and duration of steroids use, proper sugar control in patients with Covid-19 can reduce the incidence of CAM.
Also early diagnosis and appropriate management by multidisciplinary team of doctors can lead to better outcomes in this disease.p
The public should be aware about the symptoms of CAM and post Covid-19 consultations with an eye specialist, ear nose throat specialist, neuro surgeons and dentists should be done, if required
