AMRITSAR: Covid-19 has continued relentlessly for the last one-and-a-half years and the associated superinfections, such as Mucormycosis, also known as the `black fungus disease` has led to a renewed interest in the rapidly escalating fungal infections, particularly in the Indian sub-continent.
Keeping this in mind Asian Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology organized a webinar titled "COVID-19 & Oral and Systemic Mycoses" which was attended by more than 300 doctors from across the world. Professor Lakhsman Samaranayake who is the foremost authority on oral fungal infections was the Speaker at the virtual event
Dr Ranganath K Hon President ASOMP
The lecture on the Oral Manifestations of COVID-19 highlighted on the possibility of outbreaks of severe fungal infections in healthcare facilities managing COVID-19 patients.
The symptoms of mucormycosis can range from bad breath to loose teeth. It is necessary that doctors advise patients, who have recovered from Covid-19, to go for regular oral check-ups. The need to do this is more pressing in case of people who have diabetes.
Dr Samaranayake stressed on the importance of good personal & oral hygiene for Prevention of mucormycosis or black fungus infection.
He advocated the use of clean sanitized tooth brush for cleaning teeth and regular use of chlorhexidine mouth rinses.
"In the interactive session, doctors from different countries shared their experiences on the various fungi from their centres and had Didactic discussions on tackling the dreaded infections"....Dr Simarpreet Sandhu Secretary-general ASOMP
and Dr WM Tilakaratne Advisor ASOMP chaired the session