Guwahati

Post COVID Complications that Could be Fatal or Leave You Sick for Life

Doctors monitoring COVID survivors say, the virus causes extensive damage to the lungs, heart and brain. Black fungus another side affect of COVID can be fatal if not treated in time

Sentinel Digital Desk

Guwahati: The number of COVID cases are rising but a large number of recoveries are also happening. This of course is good news but all is not well. Several COVID survivors have complained of post-COVID complications and some of these like the black mucus could prove to be fatal if not treated in time.

What COVID Can Cause?

COVID survivors have been complaining of fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, cough, joint pain, chest pain, sleeping problems, dizziness when a person stands up. These can be said to be minor side effects compared to what it can do or has done to many people who have survived COVID. COVID can cause irreparable damage to organs heart, lungs, and brain.
Damage to Heart -- "Imaging tests done months after recovery from COVID-19 have shown lasting damage to the heart muscle, even in people who experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms. This may increase the risk of heart failure or other heart complications in the future," medical experts at Mayo Clinic, US said. Read more
Damage to Lungs -- COVID-19 can cause long-term damage to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. This can result in long-term breathing problems. Read more
Damage to Brain -- COVID-19 can cause strokes, seizures and Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition that causes temporary paralysis. This can happen to young survivors too, doctors warn. Read more
Risk of COVID-19 Parkinson's & Alzheimer's Disease -- may also increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Some adults and children also reported to have experienced multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
This is not all. Some recent reports that have come in from Surat and Delhi that talk about 'black mucus'
At least 40 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus have been reported from Surat. Eight of those infected have lost their eyesight. Black fungus is triggered by Covid-19. It is treatable but if left untreated or if the treatment is delayed, the condition can lead to the loss of vision, and in some cases increase mortality.
According to the US Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), mucormycosis or black fungus is a rare fungal infection. But mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a serious infection caused by a group of molds or fungi called mucormycetes. These molds live throughout the environment.
It 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 types of skin injury.

Signs & Symptoms of Mucormycosis

The symptoms of mucormycosis or black fungus appear two-three days after a person has recovered from the Covid-19 infection.
This fungal infection first occurs in the sinus after the patient is cured of Covid-19 and in about two-four days, it invades the eyes. In the next 24 hours, the black fungus can travel up to the brain. 
Severe headache and redness in the eyes are two of the common symptoms. Cases of Black Fungus have also been reported from hospitals of Delhi.