Zinc Use may Increase the Risk of Black Fungus

Multiple factors are playing a role in black fungus infection among COVID-19 patients and the high intake zinc supplements in the pandemic may also be one of the key factors.

High intake of zinc supplements during the pandemic may play a vital role in the onset of black fungus during COVID-19, but more research is needed on this.

Zinc is thought to accumulate iron in the body which can create a breeding ground for mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes.

‘Zinc may accumulate iron in the body which can create a breeding ground for mucormycosis, a serious but rare fungal infection.’
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Mucor growth in a human body depends on multiple host factors. Last year, doctors had seen mucor patients, but the number was less as number of Covid patients was less.

"This year, the number of COVID patients is high, virulence of Covid is more and steroids have been used indiscriminately, so several factors are playing a role in the spread of black fungus," Dr Aparna Mahajan, Consultant-ENT, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, told IANS.

Mucormycosis has been there in India for decades. Rhinoorbitocerebral mucormycosis is the most common and has been managed by ENT surgeons since several decades.

Mucormycosis (Black Fungal Disease): A Complication of COVID-19
Mucormycosis is spread by spores from the black fungus, Mycormycetes. It mainly affects people with a weak immune system and attacks the lungs and other organs of the body. It is also known as Black Fungal Disease.

"But it used to present itself very rarely and in immunocompromised patients like diabetics or cancer patients or transplant recipients, etc. Due to COVID, it has reached the masses," Mahajan said.

The country has recorded 11,717 cases of black fungus to date with Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana reporting highest number of cases.

According to Dr Dinesh V. Kamath, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospitals Malleshwaram, there is no direct link between zinc and mucormycosis, a fungal infection seen primarily in people who have uncontrolled diabetes, increased usage of steroids, and situations where they are immunocompromised.

"As of now, there was no direct link between zinc and mucormycosis. But mucormycosis has been a very rare disease till about past one year. After this pandemic, especially in the second wave, we are seeing a greater number of mycormycosis cases," Kamath said.

There were some possibilities like increased steam inhalation may cause mucormycosis, or people who are on high supplements of zinc may be one of the factors for the increased incidence.

"That is how there is a link now that there may be a cause of high zinc intake for mucormycosis, however it certainly requires more studies to prove this," Kamath told IANS.

Due to the fear of COVID, patients started taking zinc and iron supplements on their own.

"My final say would be not to use zinc as the blanket treatment to all the patients and definitely not as a prevention. Only patients who are diagnosed with COVID can consider it, and zinc as a supplement can be given for a short period, and then stopped once they recover from the illness," Kamath added.

Mucormycosis has a multi-factorial reasons which have seen increased incidence, particularly in the second wave in the past few weeks.

"Both the public and the doctors should be more aware to see that they don't use steroids inappropriately and should ensure that diabetes is under good control," experts advised.

Source-IANS