Along with the surge of coronavirus pandemic in India, there have been numerous reported cases of mucormycosis, a fungal infection that could cause blindness or serious illness and even death, among COVID-19 survivors.

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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 lower 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.

Some doctors believe mucormycosis may be being triggered by the use of steroids, a life-saving treatment for severe and critically ill Covid-19 patients.

The US CDC notes some of the symptoms of sinus and brain mucormyosis as: One-sided facial swelling, headache, nasal or sinus congestion, black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe and fever. Some of the symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis included fever, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.

                  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus, are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow). The best way to prevent and slow down transmission, Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19.

Infectious agents come in many shapes and sizes. Categories include:

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Fungi
• Protozoans

Bacteria

Bacteria are one-celled organisms that can be seen only with a microscope.

Not all bacteria are harmful, and some bacteria that live in your body are helpful. For instance, Lactobacillus acidophilus — a harmless bacterium that resides in your intestines — helps you digest food, destroys some disease-causing organisms and provides nutrients.

Some infections caused by bacteria include:

• Strep throat
• Tuberculosis
• Urinary tract infections
• Cholera.
• Leprosy.
• Plague.
• Syphilis.
• Anthrax.

Viruses

Viruses are much smaller than cells. In fact, viruses are basically just capsules that contain genetic material. To reproduce, viruses invade cells in your body, hijacking the machinery that makes cells work. Host cells are often eventually destroyed during this process.

Viruses are responsible for causing many diseases, including:

• AIDS
• Common cold
• Ebola virus
• Genital herpes
• Influenza
• Measles
• Chickenpox and shingles

Fungi

There are many varieties of fungi, and we eat several of them. Mushrooms are fungi, as are the molds that form the blue or green veins in some types of cheese. And yeast, another type of fungus, is a necessary ingredient in most types of bread.

Other fungi can cause illness. One example is candida — a yeast that can cause infection. Candida can cause thrush — an infection of the mouth and throat — in infants and in people taking antibiotics or who have an impaired immune system. Fungi are also responsible for skin conditions such as athlete’s foot and ringworm.

Protozoans

Protozoans are single-celled organisms that behave like tiny animals — hunting and gathering other microbes for food. Many protozoans cause diseases, such as:

• Giardia
• Malaria
• Toxoplasmosis