Black fungus patients do not require treatment for Covid-19

Hyderabad: Patients testing Covid-19 positive after reporting to hospitals with black fungus infection is due to the presence of the virus in the body. It is not a re-infection with Covid-19, doctors have explained.

They do not require treatment for Covid19 but only for black fungus.

Those who are testing positive for Covid-19 with black fungus infection are sent to Gandhi Hospital. In the private sector, such patients are being treated separately. They, however, do not have the ability to infect others.

Dr Prashant Kumar, senior pulmonologist at Medak Government Hospital, explained: "Some patients are testing positive due to the viral load in the body. Viral shedding is seen for a month or two months. The RT PCR testing positive is due to the virus presence, but these patients require treatment for black fungus only."

The fungal infection cases from districts are high and these patients are coming to both private and government hospitals.

In hospitals, test results showed that many were not aware that they had Covid-19. They had symptoms of fever, cough and cold and opted for medicines from government medical kits.

A doctor at a government public health centre explained: "ANMs were to monitor these cases but the medication regime was not followed properly. Most of them took the medicines without undergoing tests. They are now coming to hospitals with problems of black fungus and high sugar levels."

Panic is widespread as patients are realizing that they are Covid-19 positive.

Dr T. Pavan Reddy, senior general physician at Sunshine Hospitals explained: "After day 14 of the illness, it is no longer Covid-19. It is the secondary infection which must be the focus of treatment. These patients do not require any anti-viral drugs or Covid19 treatment. The viral load is expected in the body. For that reason, it is recommended not to test again as there are false positives."

Experts say a combination of the illness is not possible as black fungus will emerge only after the exit of the Covid virus.