Mucormycosis in India: Pathophysiology and Perspectives on Treatment and Management

Abstract

Mucormycosis, also known as "black fungus," is a potentially fatal disorder that causes blurred or double vision, chest pain, and breathing problems. The introduction of novel risk factors and causative agents, as well as the problems with controlling the disease, are all significant problems with mucormycosis in India. It is most common among COVID-19 patients. Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal disease that primarily affects immunosuppressant patients, mainly caused by mold fungi of the genus mucor, rhizopus, rhizomucor, and absidia, which are in the zygomycetes class and the Mucorales order. The most common risk factor is diabetes mellitus, followed by haematological malignancy and solid-organ transplantation. Reversal of underlying predisposing factors, surgical debridement of infected tissues, and proper antifungal therapy are all required for the treatment of mucormycosis. In this review, the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and symptoms of black fungus and its association with covid-19, treatment, and diagnosis are discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Mucormycosis; black fungus; diabetes; diagnosis; pathogenesis; treatment.