Recovering from Black Fungus, Barak Valley’s first patient readmitted to SMCH

After repeated episodes of nasal and oral bleeding, Karimganj resident Alok Deb has been rushed to Silchar Medical College and Hospital. According to his brother, Sushil Deb, yesterday, after he was bleeding, the family members decided to get him admitted to the hospital.

“We discussed the matter with the doctors and as per their suggestion, shifted him to the hospital,” informed Sushil Deb. He added, “After he was shifted to the hospital and treatment started, his bleeding stopped. However, he is still suffering from fever.”

Alok Deb has been admitted to the General Medicine ward of Silchar Medical College and Hospital. “Today morning I have visited the ward to check his condition. Currently, his only problem is fever. Presently, there is no history of bleeding. His blood sugar and blood pressure levels are normal. He is getting Antibiotics and IV fluids as per prescription,” informed Dr. Bhaskar Gupta, vice principal, Silchar Medical College and Hospital and professor and head, Department of Dermatology, Leprosy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Dr. Gupta informed that Alok Deb is now on oral Antifungal Posaconazole 300mg. The doctors in SMCH are monitoring the recovery process of Alok Deb.

Deb was referred to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital from SMCH for better treatment. There a special team was formed to treat the patient. On June 20, 2021, he was discharged from the GMCH after his condition “improved”. The doctors said that the treatment for Mucormycosis is spread over a course of six months and in some cases, even more. However, as the rest of the treatment will comprise of oral medications, he is being discharged.

Speaking with Barak Bulletin, Dr. Bharati Gogoi, Professor, and HOD, Opthalmology – GMCH and a Member of the special committee constituted to treat the mucormycosis patient referred from Silchar Medical College and Hospital had said, “The patient is stable and was discharged. His parameters are fine from the ENT side and the intracranial (brain) side as well.”

She added, “The infection started from his nasal cavity and one of his eyes got affected as his nerve was involved due to mucormycosis so he completely lost vision in one eye. There is no need for any eye surgery as that eye is quiet.”

Dr. Bharati Gogoi had informed after Alok Deb was discharged, “His complications have gradually reduced as he was injected Amphotericin B intravenously but oral doses are required for a longer period of time which we prescribed.”

The new episodes of nasal and oral bleeding are worrying the family members who have been going through a difficult period under mental stress for more than a month.