In ten years, the number of deaths worldwide from fungal infections has risen. According to scientific estimates, fungal infections have risen worldwide in the last ten years.
A new study conducted by David W. Denning, Principal Investigator of the Manchester Fungal Infection Group at the University of Manchester, shows that the number of deaths caused by fungal infections has increased significantly from 2 million to almost 3.8 million each year.
This concerning percentage represents approximately 6.8% of all deaths worldwide. While 16% of all deaths worldwide are attributable to coronary heart disease, another 11% are caused by stroke, 6% are caused by smoke-related lung disease (COPD), and approximately one-third are caused by fungal infections.
Although the ability to diagnose fungal diseases has increased over the past ten to fifteen years, the study found that not only is there restricted availability to these tests in low-income nations, but there is also a limited use of them.
He stated that various fungal illnesses are identified in numerous locations, despite the fact that some of the most prevalent fungal species go unrecognized, increasing the number of fungal-related deaths worldwide.
Only around one-third of patients are truly diagnosed with a fungal illness using tests based on fungal cultures. He disclosed that antifungal resistance is an increasing issue, much as antibiotic resistance.
The application of specific fungicides to crops is significantly raising the rates of resistance to azoles, a class of antifungal medications.
Serious Candida infections impact around 1.5 million individuals globally, and they are responsible for almost 1 million deaths annually.
Since the present blood culture tests can only detect 40 percent of these potentially fatal Candida infections, improved diagnostic techniques are required.
Approximately half of the 6,00,000 Aids-related deaths can be attributed to fungus infections.
Covid-19 and the black mold
After Covid-19, India had the first significant outbreak of mucormycosis, sometimes known as black fungus. Over 51,000 cases were documented during the pandemic due to this fungus, which causes tissue death. This is a sharp rise from the projected 10,000 cases worldwide in 2012.
This development was influenced by elements such as uncontrolled diabetes and excessive steroid use.
Notably, previous statistics may not have taken into account the global surge in fungal diseases among Covid-19 users, such as Aspergillus and Candida infections, indicating that the true numbers may be greater.
Twofold jolt
Patients receiving intensive care for influenza have a higher chance of contracting the deadly Aspergillus infection, which increases mortality risk even in cases where Aspergillus is detected.
Physicians and scientists are concerned about the possibility of a dual-threat scenario—a simultaneous epidemic of fungal infections and influenza or another respiratory virus.
“There are no vaccines for fungi,” he continued. Rarely does severe fungal disease affect healthy individuals; it usually only affects those who are already sick, as well as those who live or work in moldy houses or workplaces.
For this reason, it is imperative that we diagnose fungal diseases accurately and promptly, and we must treat them with extreme caution.”
