After reports of Black fungus, White fungus and Yellow Fungus, India is faced with another first-ever case of fungal infection of Green Fungus (Aspergillosis). A COVID-19 survivor in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore is infected with Green Fungus, as per a report in PTI. The patient has been transferred from Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS) in Indore to Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital.
Dr Ravi Doshi, head of the Department of Chest Diseases, SAIMS, told PTI that the patient underwent a test on suspicion that he had contracted Black Fungus but he was instead found to have Green Fungus in his sinuses, lungs and blood.
"He was found to have Green Fungus infection in his sinuses, lungs and blood. More research was needed on whether the nature of green fungus infection in people who have recovered from COVID-19 is different from other patients," Dr Dosi said.
What is Green Fungus?
The medical term of Green Fungus is Aspergillosis. It is an infection caused by a common mould called Aspergillus and most commonly affects the lungs. Aspergillus is a common type of fungus that is found inside homes and outside in the open, although Aspergillosis is a relatively uncommon infection. It is not contagious and can be treated with antifungal medications.
According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus. The types of health problems caused by Aspergillus include allergic reactions, lung infections, and infections in other organs.
What are the symptoms?
According to CDC, there are different types of aspergillosis that cause different symptoms. A person infected with Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) can show symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and fever, whereas a person infected with Allergic Aspergillus sinusitis may suffer from stuffiness, runny nose, headache and reduced ability to smell. Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis can lead to weight loss, coughing, coughing up of blood, fatigue and shortness of breath.
‘Avoid colour labels as it creates confusion’
Even though fungal infections are commonly referred to by their colour, Dr. Randeep Guleria, dean of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has advised refraining from calling the fungi by its colour and instead use it medical terminology to avoid confusion.
“It is better to use the correct names. If the fungus grows in certain areas, the colour may look different, and calling the same fungus by different colour labels will create confusion,” Dr Guleria said at a press conference earlier.
(With inputs from PTI)
