The various manifestation of Covid 19 virus has further raised concerns among the public. Sometimes, this virus can affect an individual without showing symptoms, and in few cases, people may face severe health complications like high fever, breathing problems, drop-in oxygen saturation, and even pneumonia. Mucormycosis or commonly called black fungus is one such condition due to Covid 19 which is rising alarmingly among patients who have tested positive for the virus and recovered from it.
There has been a steady increase in the number of black fungus cases in the last few days. If this condition is not detected and treated at an early stage, it can rapidly spread to the other parts of the body like the eyes and brain and cause loss of vision and at times even fatal. Moreover, the reduced availability of antifungal medicines like Amphotericin –B has further complicated the situation. Reason for the spike in numbers People suffering from Covid 19 tend to the immune system that is compromised. Covid positive patients who are critically ill or have severe symptoms are given steroids which is the lifesaving treatment for them. Steroids reduce inflammation in the lungs for Covid-19 patients and appear to help stop some of the damage the infection can create to the body. Covid 19 patients who are taking steroids as part of their treatment are particularly at risk of developing black fungus because steroids further suppress the immune system. A combination of Covid 19, uncontrolled diabetes or other comorbid conditions, and steroids adds fuel to the fire and increases the chances for black fungus. Therefore, it is important to avoid taking any over-the-counter medications without a prescription and steroids need to be used judiciously.
Mucormycosis – the black fungus
Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that affects the sinuses, the brain, and lungs. A group of molds called micromycetes which are naturally present in the environment cause this. These fungi are present in the soil, decaying leaves, compost piles, and animal dung. Though one can contract this by breathing the mold spores in the air, the risk increases with a weakened immunity system.
Mucormycosis can cause severe complications in people who have uncontrolled diabetes or individuals who are severely immunocompromised like cancer patients or people with reduced immunity. Mucormycosis is a rare and non-contagious infection. However, it can be debilitating or fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated in time.
Warning signs and symptoms to watch out for:

• One-side facial pain or numbness
• Blackish discoloration over the bridge of the nose or palate
• Toothache
• Blurred or double vision with pain
• Skin lesion
• Thrombosis
• Chest pain
• Worsening respiratory symptoms
• Altered mental status

Who has to be more cautious?

Mucormycosis mainly affects individuals who have low immunity, especially patients who have had a prolonged admission to the ICU. Recently, this infection is mostly seen in people who have tested positive for Covid 19 and on steroids coupled with other comorbidities like uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, kidney failure, heart failure, etc? Age and high ferritin levels in the blood can also add to the complication. Black fungus generally does not pose threat to individuals who have a functional immune system.

How does it spread?

Though black fungus is not transmissible, it can pose danger to the affected person as it spreads rapidly throughout the body. If left untreated, it can spread to the brain and lungs causing complications like brain infection, paralysis, seizure, pneumonia, and in severe cases can be fatal.

As the black fungus is a rare condition, the first wave of Covid 19 brought focus on this and emphasized the immediate treatment to curb the spread of the fungus to other parts of the body. However, in the second wave, there is a sudden spike in cases and many states now have been reporting mucormycosis cases. Is mucormycosis treatable? Mucormycosis can be treated with surgical intervention and using antifungal medications. Along with this, managing diabetes, discontinuing the immunomodulating drugs, and reducing the intake of steroids also helps. Prevention of mucormycosis In general self-care measures are the best way to avoid this infection. Especially people with weakened immune systems need to be careful of their condition and the medicine intake. Safeguarding themselves from the Covid infection is more important. Below are a few tips to prevent mucormycosis:

Follow Covid 19 protocols of wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining social
distancing

• Keep diabetes under control
•  Monitor blood glucose level post-Covid-19 discharge
• Use steroid judiciously – correct timing, correct dose, and duration
•  Use clean, sterile water for humidifiers during oxygen therapy
• Use antibiotics/antifungals medicines judiciously
•  Do not miss warning signs and symptoms particularly in the context of immunosuppression and/or Covid-19 patients on immunomodulators Taking precautions is the best way to keep away from infections.

However, even if an individual contract the infection, identifying the symptoms and taking immediate medical help always aids in treating it effectively.

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• Aster Whitefield super specialty hospital project will be a 350 bedded facility with a total investment of Rs. 200 crores and will be operational by April 2022
• Phase 1 of the project is dedicated to a 49 bedded Women and Child Care Hospital and has been launched with an overall outlay of Rs. 25 crore

Bangalore, February 09, 2021: Aster DM Healthcare, one of the largest integrated healthcare service networks in the GCC and the third-largest healthcare company in India, has announced the launch of its 49 bedded dedicated ‘Women and Children Care Hospital’ at Whitefield, Bangalore. Comprising of 14 bedded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a 7-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), this hospital will offer cutting edge multidisciplinary women and child care that will be steered by highly skilled medical professionals dedicated to providing world-class care and the highest safety standards. The new unit offers a wide number of specialties that include gynecology, pediatrics, pediatric super-specialty, neonatology, fetal medicine, and 24/7 emergency care. The other different facilities and services available at the hospital include labor delivery suites, Modular Operation Theatre, Cardiotocography Monitoring for a fetal heartbeat, 3D and 4D Ultrasound, Pediatric ICUs, Neonatal ICUs, X-Ray, Birthing Suites, and a 24*7 Walk-in Pharmacy. Commenting on the establishment of the hospital, Dr. Harish Pillai, Chief Executive Officer, Aster India, said: “Aster DM Healthcare is happy to announce the opening of the Phase 1 part of our 350-bed Aster Whitefield project, our latest offering to the Garden City of Bengaluru. The Phase 1 part consists of a boutique Women and Children hospital that has best-in-class technology and equipment backed by an eminent clinical faculty. While the entire Aster Whitefield project envisages a total investment of Rs. 200 crores, this phase 1 launch of the Women & Children Hospital has been established at an investment of Rs. 25 crores. Aster is also looking at further expansion of our Kolhapur Hospital in Maharashtra called Aster Aaadhar, wherein we are adding extra 60 beds to the existing bed capacity of 180 and also includes a new comprehensive Oncology Block.

The investment for this expansion is Rs. 35 crores.” “With a history of over 32 years of care, our team of highly experienced experts will offer advanced treatments to patients using cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic technology. The dedicated women and child hospital is a standalone concept hospital that will be supported by a large multi-specialty hospital. The availability of multi-specialty support can become an indispensable entity for the expecting mothers and can prove to be a life-savior for both the mother and the child care at all stages and beyond. At Aster, we strive for excellence, every moment and every day – to bring great healthcare within reach of people. We live by our motto We’ll Treat You well to the last detail.” said, Dr. Nitish Shetty, CEO, Aster Hospitals, Bangalore. Aster DM Healthcare is committed to providing the highest quality of medical care to people and is at hand to fulfill all medical treatment, hospitalization, diagnostic and pharmacy needs for millions of patients in the MENA and the Asia Pacific regions. In a world where health problems and hospitals are multiplying by the day, Aster Hospital aims to make a difference, with its patient-centric approach to medical care. As a wholly patient-centric organization, Aster DM Healthcare has always been introducing global quality care protocols across its medical facilities.

ABOUT ASTER DM HEALTHCARE
Aster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in multiple GCC states and is an emerging healthcare player in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence, we are one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary healthcare through our hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. We have over 20,000 plus dedicated employees across the geographies that we are present in, delivering a simple yet strong promise to our different stakeholders: “We’ll treat you well.” We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC states through our differentiated healthcare services across the “Aster”, “Medicare” and “Access” brands.

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Though it may seem like an apocalypse, social distancing has done immense good for certain aspects of humanity. Apart from giving us all the much-deserved family time, “me” time is a blessing too.

Here are some tips and tricks for your quarantine rejuvenation and maintenance of your body.

This is the perfect time to declutter your old products, follow a disciplined skin and hair regimen whilst innovatively exploring home remedies from your very own kitchen!

Exercise, food, and sleep: 

It is of paramount importance to maintain positive vibes during this period by getting a healthy dose of meditation, exercise, and relaxation.

Exercising: increases oxygenated blood to our skin which uses this for extra nourishment and a new production of collagen and elastin.

This should be supported by some food rich in antioxidants!

Get adequate sleep! It’s called beauty sleep for a reason. Now is the time to do this. No excuses.

Skincare (General body areas): 

Exfoliate and replenish. (Removes dead skin and improves circulation)

1. To refresh your skin in the morning:

 one cup of coffee powder, ¼ to ½ cup of brown sugar, and a dash of olive or coconut oil. Right before turning off the water in the shower, gently apply this mixture all over your body except your face and rinse.

2. Mix gram flour and semolina in a ratio of 2: 1.  Mix with bran/olive oil/rose water. Apply this pack on your entire body before taking a bath and just scrub it all the way before washing it off.

3. Replenish with your favourite body oils. Let the hands and feet soak in more with gloves and socks for a few minutes every day.

Face: Stick to your normal dermatologist -prescribed skin routine every day and night religiously and don’t try too many new products! Don’t worry if your monthly stock of face products isn’t available/ you’re running out! Try these for around 15 minutes!

Face packs/ masks (Natural):

1. Mix two tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt with one tablespoon of raw honey.
2. Slices of cucumber or tea bags over your eyes to reduce puffiness
3. Mashed up avocado.
4. Yogurt and berries blended together.
5. Cinnamon with honey (good for acne, honey should be raw and unfiltered)
6. 100% colloidal oatmeal mixed with water to form a paste (great for sensitive skin)
7. Skin lightening for dark spots/ acne scars:  Aloin present in Aloe Vera gel helps to lighten such spots. You can apply this 2-3 times in a day.
8. Please do not apply garlic / lemon juice / turmeric directly to your face

Hair mask:

Ground mixture of Fenugreek seeds-(soaked overnight) mixed with coconut oil applied for 1-2 hours acts as a conditioner.Rice water hair rinse: Use by Japanese women for ages.  Inositol found in this water can help strengthen hair if you have hair breakage, weak and thin hair.

Eye-care

For everyone working from home and spending hours staring at the screen, this comes as an essential part of your regimen. Take Cucumber, tomato and a potato and-

1. Wash and grind all three together in a grinder. You can turn it into a cold eye/ face pack by putting the mixture into an ice tray.
2. Make sure you dab your eye cream on twice daily. This reduces the puffiness and dark circles.
3. Massage outward gently to increase circulation.
4. You can also wear an ice eye mask before you hit your bed.

How to stay groomed when all the salons are closed!

If you need to touch up your hair colour:  

Please don’t try anything strong at home for the first time as the box dyes off the shelves have fewer conditioning agents than the professional ones, hence damaging the hair. Try Root touch up products.

• They’re very effective and serve the purpose of covering up all your grey’s temporarily and do not damage the hair.
• Wash lesssince you’re not stepping out into the environmental pollution. This helps retain colour.
• Deep conditioning with hair masks regularly one or twice a week for 20 minutes helps reducing breakage, improve elasticity and prevent colour fade-age. 

Hair removal?

Since all the salons are shut for waxing and all our clinics are shut for the Laser hair removal procedures – Stick to shaving / trimming/ epilating / hair removal creams/ wax strips at home.

Have none of the above options? Try some of these!

Hair removal packs (Natural):

1. Body areas: Boil Lemon + Sugar = Cold wax. Use cloth strips forn-waxing at home. Try this only if you are a regular waxer and a familiar with the method.
2. Upper lip: Turmeric + Milk (3:1) = A paste – apply and let dry. Rub gently, wash off with cold water.
3. Facial hair: Gram Flour + Yoghurt + a pinch of turmeric = A paste (Apply, let dry, rub gently and wash off with cold water)
4. Eyebrows: Good old tweezing is still the best in the current situation!

Feet:

Now that we don’t have to run around all the time let’s give the feet the respect they deserve.

Crush six to eight aspirin and dissolve in lemon juice. Stir in two tablespoons of honey to thicken into a jelly-like substance. Apply the mixture to the bottoms of your feet, paying extra attention to the callus prone areas. Cover with a warm cloth, elevate your feet for 10-15 minutes, then rinse.

Do this thrice a week, followed by a foot cream containing Urea, lactic acid and glycolic acid. Watch your feet transform.

So stay home, stay safe and stay beautiful!

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