We have logically two strong points to strengthen our argument. Speculations are going around that the rise in black fungus / mucormycosis in post-COVID-19 patients could be related to oxygen. Let it be the oxygen used traditionally in hospitals or industrial oxygen; we believe neither could be the cause.
- Pure oxygen is toxic – black fungus cannot grow in industrial oxygen or oxygen cylinders
Neither fungi nor bacteria can live in 100% oxygen, and even a human being cannot breathe pure oxygen for more than one or two hours. Likewise, there is no way a tiny fungus, mucor, or black fungus can live in dirty oxygen pipes or oxygen cylinders, or industrial oxygen. Mucor will not grow in oxygen cylinders. Let it be medical oxygen or industrial oxygen.
- Sporangia cannot grow in water
One more theory revolving around oxygen is that fungus spreads due to unhygienic water used in oxygen flow meters. The fungus can grow in water in the form of mycelia only, and Mycelia is like a plant without flowering. When fungus grows in water or any liquid, it cannot germinate and form sporangia. The fungus cannot release its seeds without sporangia, and Sporangia can grow only on solid substances. So even if the water used in flow meters is unhygienic and has mucor growing in it, it cannot cause mucormycosis infection.
Black fungus industrial oxygen – We breathe mucor daily, and we do not need unhygienic oxygen cylinders or dirty water inflow meters to get exposed to it. It attacks us only when our immunity is down. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is bringing down our immunity and is increasing the risk. The black fungus has been seen in patients who have hardly taken any medication and got self-healed. This gives us even more reason to start the medication ASAP and avoid health deterioration.
Mucormycosis or black fungus occurs only when immunity is low
Similar myths involve steroids used for COVID-19 treatment. Steroids can lower immunity only when taken for a long time. For COVID-19, the steroids are given for a short time and will not impact immunity. So, steroids that are offered for COVID-19 cannot be the reason.
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