Do you recognize the early dental signs of black fungus?
Dr. D.Sendhil Nathan MDS, DNB Prosthodontics And Implantology
The Corona Virus Pandemic has made us witness many unprecedented things. Apart from the constant rise of corona infection rates and hazards associated with the virus, covid patients are becoming susceptible to a new fungal infection called “Black fungus”.
In India, around 11,000 black fungus cases are reported in recent days. This is one of the rare, fulminating, and deep fungal infections caused by a mold of fungus called “Mucormycosis”.
Doctors observed that this fungal infection primarily affects the eyes, oral cavity, respiratory tract, and ears. The infection is categorized in accordance with the site where the fungus prevails as follows:
- Mucormycosis off the sinuses and brain
- Mucormycosis of the lung
- Mucormycosis of the skin
- Mucormycosis of the digestive tract
- Disseminated Mucormycosis
How does black fungus affect our mouth?
In general, the mouth and its surrounding areas are highly affected by fungal infections. For instance, Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis, Mucosal Candidiasis, and Cutaneous Candidiasis cause oral thrush. Dentists reveal that people who are frequently taking immunosuppressive agents get affected with deep-seated fungal infections like black fungus.
Mucormycosis (Black fungus) is a saprophytic fungus commonly found in soil, decaying vegetation, animal manure. As it exists in the environment, it enters our body when we inhale the microbes. Generally, our immune system protects our body from this infection.
In contrast, people who have compromised immune systems due to illnesses like diabetes, cancer, or other conditions can easily develop black fungus infections.
Medications and steroids taken during corona treatment have a wreck on our immune system whilst elevate the blood sugar levels that end in diabetes. This is why many covid patients develop black fungus infection after recovery.
How dentists diagnose black fungus disease?
When the Mucormycosis pathogens enter our body, they show abnormal signs like drainage of black pus from eyes, visual disturbances, skin discoloration, abscess formation, running nose, nausea, abdominal pain, difficulty in breathing, etc.
In the meantime, the fungal impact on the oral cavity exhibit signs like
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Pus discharge from gums
- Mobile maxillary bone
- Gum & Tongue discoloration
- Prolonged mouth ulcers
A trained dental doctor can distinguish ulcers and ulcerative growth due to microbial accumulation in the mouth. Despite the mentioned dental discomforts share the signs of various oral problems, your dentist can identify whether it occurs due to oral microbes or other deadly infectious conditions.
In simply, a timely dental consultation will help you to diagnose black fungus and treat the infection at time.
Bottom line
Even though Mucormycosis is a deadly condition, it is treatable and prevented from progressing to a fatal stage. It should be jointly treated by a team of healthcare professionals including nephrologist, neurologist, otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist, and dentist.
Keep in mind that people who are recovered from COVID 19 should enhance their oral hygiene regimen as a part of precautionary steps to avert black fungus.
