A 60-year-old woman has developed the uncommon mucormycosis - black fungus - after recuperating from Covid infection in Chittagong.
The presence of black fungus was verified on Wednesday, the patient's son and the Chittagong Medical College Hospital authorities confirmed to Dhaka Tribune.
Homemaker Ferdous Begum, a resident of Patia Upazila in Chittagong, had been suffering from fever since June 25. On July 3, she tested positive for Covid-19.
As she suffered a slew of medical issues after her Covid test came negative on July 13, she was admitted to the CMCH by her relatives on July 24.
Her treatment is being disrupted due to a shortage of necessary medicine.
Hospital Director Brigadier General SM Humayun Kabir said that the doctors would see the patient again on Thursday before deciding whether to send her to Dhaka or not.
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Doctors have recommended 250ml of Liposomal Amphotericin B injection for the treatment of this woman for seven days. Her sons and daughters are now looking for this rare and expensive drug.
The patient's husband died of coronary artery disease five days ago.
Son Md Belal Hossain said: “I lost my father five days ago. Now my mother is on the verge of death. I've been looking for the injection for my mother, but I can't find it anywhere.”
When contacted, Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi said that the injection required for this disease was not yet available in the country.
“The injection that was given to one patient in Dhaka did not prove effective,” he added.
Bangladesh confirmed the detection of the first two cases of black fungus on May 25 at the capital's Birdem General Hospital in patients who had recovered from Covid-19.
Black fungus, also known as mucormycosis, is normally a rare infection having a mortality rate of 50%. In severe cases, the fungus affects the eyes, nose, face, lungs, and even the brain.
