Mucormycosis (previously called Zygomycosis) is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. These molds live throughout the environment .
Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lowers the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness. It most commonly affects the sinuses or the lungs after inhaling fungal spores from the air. It can also occur on the skin after a cut, burn or other type of skin injury.
The symptoms of mucormycosis depends on where in the body the fungus is growing.
Symptoms of Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:
- One sided facial swelling
- Headache
- Nasal congestion
- Black lesions on nasal bridge
- Fever
Symptoms of Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis
- Blisters or Ulcers
- Black lesions
- Pain
- Excessive redness or swelling around a wound
Symptoms of Gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
Symptoms of Orbital Mucormycosis include:
- Facial or Periorbital swelling or numbness
- Blurred vision
- Chemosis
- Diplopia
- Corneal anesthesia
- Loss of vision
Disseminated Mucormycosis typically occurs in people who are already sick from other medical conditions.
Diagnosis:
- Presumptive diagnosis is based on the patients history, physical examination and the patients risk factors for getting a fungal infection.
- CT or MRI may help define the extent of infections or tissue destruction.
- Biopsy
As it is well aware that Homoeopathy is a system of medicine which is based on individualisation and the mucormycosis is not an exception for this. The following medicine can be used in the treatment of mucormycosis on the advise and under strict supervision of a qualified Homoeopathic physician.
Rhinocerebral mucormycosis:
Arsenic Album, Kali Bich, Hepar Sulph, Cinnabaris, Merc Sol, Thuja
Pulmonary Mucormycosis:
Arsenic Album, Bryonia, Antim Tart, Eriodictyon, Justicia, Phosphorus, Senega.
Cutaneous Mucormycosis:
Arsenic Album, Anthracinum, Cantharis, Calc.Sulph, Calendula, Gun Powder, Secale Cor,
Urtica Urens
Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis:
Arsenic Album, Ipecac, Geranium Mac, Crotallus, Phosphorus
Orbital mucormycosis:
Arsenic Alb. , Apis, Argentum Nit, Belladonna, Gelsemium, Guarea, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Merc Sol.
Prevention
Mucormycosis cant spread between people or between peoples and animals. There is no vaccine to prevent Mucormycosis.
For people who have weakened immune systems, there may be some ways to lower the chances of developing Mucormycosis.
1 – Try to avoid areas with lot of dust like construction sites and excavatuion sites. If you cant avoid these areas wear an N95 respirators.
2 – Avoid direct contact with water damaged buildings and flood water after natural disasters.
3 – Avoid activities that involve close contact to soil or dust such as yard work or gardening.
4 – Wear gloves when handling materials such as soil, manure or moss.
5 – To reduce the chances of developing a skin infection clean skin injuries well with soap and water. Bandaging all the wounds until they heal.
6 – Stay vigilant even weeks after recovering from COVID 19 as Mucor infection may occur during COVID 19 infection , or even after few weeks of apparent recovery from it.
Note: The information shared in the article is for general awareness and should be taken or used as a prescription for treatment of any or discussed ailment.
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