What is MucorMycosis or Black Fungus and what is Amphotericin B injection
After
Remdesivir and Oxygen the Black Marketers are now hoarding drugs available for
treating Black Fungus. One such drug used to treat MucorMycosis or Black Fungus
is Amphotericin B
Amphotericin
B is in great demand after the surge in Black Fungus cases in India. An
anti-fungal drug used in the treatment of a rare infection called mucormycosis,
or "black fungus", is in short supply across states in India.
Amphotericin
B, is manufactured by many Indian Pharmaceutical firms, and the chances of its
short supply are rare but it is still on sale on the black market
The
reason why there is a lot of panic about the short supply is that we can see a
number of emergency appeals on social media for the drug as mucormycosis cases are
rising in many states in India.
One
of the reasons of the Black Fungus infection according to the doctors is the
usage of steroids in severely-ill Covid patients.
Mucormycosis
is caused by exposure to mucor mould which is commonly found in soil, plants,
manure and decaying fruits and vegetables.
The
black Fungus can be dangerous in diabetic or severely
immunocompromised people, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS. It affects
the sinuses, the brain and the lungs and many patients arrive for treatment
late, when they are already losing vision, and doctors have to surgically
remove the eye to stop the infection from reaching the brain.
Doses of Amphotericin B
According to doctors Amphotericin B or "ampho-B" is
an anti-fungal intravenous injection which has to be administered every day for
up to eight weeks to patients diagnosed with Mucormycosis. There are two forms
of the drug available: standard amphotericin B deoxycholate and liposomal
amphotericin.
To deal with the menace of Black Fungus amidst the second
wave of Coronavirus, the Delhi Government has set up a 3-member Technical Committee
to deal with the black marketing, hoarding and shortage of essential medicines
and injections. The committee will ensure the availability of essential
medicines by keeping an eye on the treatment of the patients suffering from
this disease.
Hospitals will have to apply for Amphotericin B
After the decision of the government, now any hospital in
Delhi will have to get the amphotericin B (Amphotericin B) injection required
for black fungus treatment will have to apply to the same three-member
committee
