VULNERABILITY OF PEDIATRIC POPULATION TO COVID-19 ASSOCIATED MUCORMYCOSIS: AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) involves a wide range of symptoms, varying from mild to serious pneumonia. Gradually, with time and experience as we learn more about this novel Covid-19 pandemic, cases are appearing with a multitude of manifestations and newer complications. After a shocking second wave, India and the world is advancing slowly toward stability; another threat has emerged as a challenge in the form of coronavirus disease-associated mucormycosis. During the second wave of Covid-19, we observed a surge in the number of infections in the pediatric population, who were silent carriers till then. This time children were equally prone to the Coronavirus and manifested mixed symptoms. With India having large population of children suffering from type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, it makes them more prone to developing mucormycosis post-COVID-19. To handle the future situation, there is an urgent need to set up special task forces, issuing guidelines, arranging separate Pediatric patient wards in hospitals for mucormycosis, and obtaining a sufficient number of medicines. This article tries to focus on a situation Post COVID Mucormycosis, which if not controlled can be severely devastating.