Hyderabad doctors remove “Black & White Fungus” from Lungs to save life of a 60-years-old man

Hyderabad: Doctors at SLG Hospitals saved the life of a 60-year-old man with a damaged lung caused due to a combination of 'black and white fungus'.

This was the first reported case of ‘aspergilloma’ caused due to past Covid-19 infection, which otherwise occurs due to tuberculosis. While many black fungus cases have been reported in the past mostly infecting nasal cavities, this is the first of its kind health emergency caused due to black and white fungi infecting the lung, a hospital release here said on Friday.

The patient, Mr Rama Nageshwar Rao, was rushed to SLG Hospitals on July 10, after he started coughing blood due to a severe cough. CT scan revealed acute damage caused to the lower lobe of the left lung, along with a deep cavity in it. A presumptive diagnosis of the condition was the post-Covid lung damage or cavity in the lung due to past Covid-19 infection caused in the month of May this year.

Speaking on the condition and treatment administered, Dr Vivek Babu Bojjawar, Consultant Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon, SLG Hospitals said, “Aspergilloma is normally noticed among people with weak immune systems. While this is commonly found among patients suffering with tuberculosis, finding it as an after-effect of Covid-19 infection is a first.

This condition damages lungs, causes cavities, and could result in fatality at an advanced stage. Vomiting blood by Mr Rao is an indication the spread of this virus is deep and necessitated an emergency surgery.”

“A lobectomy surgery was performed on the patient to remove the virus ball along with traces of damaged lung. This condition can be seen as a medium to long term side-effect of Covid-19 infection, and such conditions must be traced and treated early before they develop into health emergencies necessitating surgical procedures,” Dr Vivek Babu added.

With rise in coronavirus cases in the country, numerous cases of severe black fungus infection or mucormycosis infection, which has a high fatality rate. Black fungus infection itself was declared endemic in certain States and regions in the country; and now this new ailment is a newer challenge to the healthcare machinery, the release added. (UNI)