Are Black, White, Yellow Fungus Different? Hear It From AIIMS Chief

New Delhi: Cases of black fungus, or mucormycosis, have been rising worryingly over the past few weeks in India. The central government has even asked states to flag it as notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act.

Then came the white fungus. Most recently, a yellow fungus disease has been reported from Ghaziabad.

Alarmed at the ‘colourful’ names being given to fungal infections, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi director Randeep Guleria urged people to refrain from categorising these based on its colour.

Instead, he said the medical name of the disease should be used.

“Labelling the same fungus with names of different colours can create confusion,” Guleria said.

He emphasized that neither is mucormycosis contagious nor is it a communicable infection.

“90-95% of patients getting infected by mucormycosis were found to have been either diabetic or were using steroids during their Covid-19 recovery. There are several types of fungal infections like candida, aspergillosis, cryptococcus, histoplasmosis and coccidioidomycosis. Mucormycosis, candida and aspergillosis are the ones observed more in those with low immunity,” the AIIMS chief added.

He advised people who develop warning signs of mucormycosis to immediately consult doctors.

“Some warning signs for mucormycosis such as headache, rusting or bleeding from nose, swelling below the eye, lowering of facial sensation, if observed in high-risk patients or those taking steroids should be informed to doctors so that early diagnosis and treatment can be given to the affected patients,” Guleria said.