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Can Corticosteroid cause Mucormycosis
Hi,
My father is taking Corticosteroid to recover from covid pneumonia. His sugar levels are normal. He is not dibetic.
I learnt that Patient taking Steroid/ Corticosteroid could are more vulnerable to Mucormycosis. Is that true?
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Keep watch on symptoms like nose block , nasal bleeding, headache, blurring of vision, pain around jaw ,teeth , eyes etc
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consult online if needed
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yes it is true
keep check on sugar levels
maintaine nasal hygiene by using saline nasal spray
seek your physician if sugar level not controlled
even if he is not diabetic do not take extra sugar in diet
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Mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection and depends on multiple factors to occur. It is not a common infection but if there is indiscriminate use of antibiotics, steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs, especially in diabetic patients or those already having a compromised immune system, and they have a poor oral and nasal hygiene, Mucor becomes more likely.
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It depends on the dose of steroid it is .. if steroid dose is not causing sugar raised / or nor lowering the immune system then there is less chance of getting mucormycosis. Apart from steroid , mucormycosis also depend on other predesposing factor i.e immunocompromised state due to many other causes (radiation therapy, hiv hbsag patient etc)
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online consultation for further details evaluation
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Dr. Gladson Guddappa Uchil
Allergist/Immunologist
26 yrs exp
Bangalore
The problem today is that for most physicians, managing Covid19 is virgin territory. When they were told to use steroids, nobody told them how to give steroids. We ENT Surgeons have been giving steroids to our patients for asthma and chronic sinusitis and sinonasal polyposis for a long time and know how to administer these potentially dangerous drugs safely.
For Covid19, they must be given high doses in INHALED FORM(Nebulized or using Metred Dose Inhalers more commonly known asthma pumps, or using Dry Powdered Inhalers as capsules using devices like Lupihaler.
When given as oral tablets, they have to be given in very high doses (1.5mg to 2mg per kg body weight per day for a short period of 4-5 days and then tapered off in another 3-4 days). This way, the medicines do they job to clear out the inflammation in the lungs and nose
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get back to me via video consultation and let me at least speak to the patient and advise appropriately
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Dr. Samvartika Somvanshi
ENT/ Otorhinolaryngologist
12 yrs exp
Lucknow
Yes it is true. Corticosteroid causes high blood sugar levels in non diabetics also.
This favours growth of fungus.
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take close watch on signs and symptoms.
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.