‘Fungal infection is not a communicable disease’: AIIMS director Randeep Guleria

Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS Delhi today made it clear that fungal infection is not a communicable disease and the color of fungus can be seen differently if it develops in different areas.

Earlier,in addition to black and white fungus, first case of yellow colored fungus had been detected in Ghaziabad.

Rare kind of fungal infections which affect those who undergo Covid-19 treatment and those who recovered from it , have been creating great worry in the country. Many cases have been reported from Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

These fungus infections are caused by a mould which flourishes in wet environments. Affecting the respiratory system first, it gradually moves to face and alters facial structures. It has the potential to attack the brain and also cause death.

Mr Guleria explained, “People with low immunity are infected with mucormycosis, Candida and asporogenous infections.” These fungi are mainly found in sinuses, nose, bone around eyes and can enter brain, it is also occasionally found in lungs(pulmonary mucormycosis) or in gastrointestinal tract,” he added.

He said that chronic fatigue syndrome if seen that it requires symptomatic treatment. He also revealed that there’s another symptom generally termed as ‘brain fog’ on social media which is seen in covid recovered people who find difficulty in concentration and suffer from insomnia and depression.

Speaking on the post covid issues, the AIIMS director said, “There are few symptoms that are seen after recovering from COVID-19.”

“If the symptoms are seen for 4-12 weeks, it is called ongoing symptomatic COVID or post-acute COVID syndrome. If symptoms are seen for more than 12 weeks, it is called post-COVID syndrome,” he added.

“We only have data showing that the virus spread from humans to animals as seen in a zoo in New York during the first wav,the AIIMS director said.