Vadodara: After black, white and aspergillosis infections, cases of candida fungal infections have now started surfacing among Covid-19 recovered patients in Gujarat.
At least 18 cases of candidiasis, the fungal infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called candida, have been reported at the state-run SSG Hospital in Vadodara.
The fungal infections were co-incidental findings in patients who were admitted for treatment of mucormycosis (black fungus) at the hospital after recovery from Covid-19.
“Nasal biopsies of patients revealed the presence of candida.
These patients were also suffering from mucormycosis or aspergillosis.
So, it was a combination of fungal infections in 18 patients,” said Dr Sheetal Mistry, advisor for Covid-19 to city and district administration.
“These three are the most common opportunistic fungal infections that hit a person when the immunity goes down,” he said, adding that candidiasis is a benign fungal infection, and it is usually not invasive.
Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body in organs such as mouth, throat, gut and vagina without causing any problems.
“But when the immunity goes down because of higher antibiotic therapy, long term usage of steroids or uncontrolled blood sugar levels, candida causes oral thrush or vaginitis,” he said.
White patches (lesions) are seen on tongues, inner cheeks and palates of such patients with oral thrush.
Vaginitis that happens due to inflammation of the vagina, results in itching or white discharge from the vagina.
Candidiasis is not life-threatening.
If diagnosed early it can be treated through oral medicines.
“But candida bloodstream infection also known as candidemia is invasive candidiasis.
If it crosses the blood barrier, it can spread to heart, kidney, liver, brain as well.
If not diagnosed and treated in time it can prove fatal,” Mistry said.