Covid19 is not a simple virus that only has cold-related effects on the body. Instead, it can deteriorate health conditions. A few days back, doctors observed a rise in black fungus cases in India. However, the recent surge in cases of bone death in India has everyone in shock.
These are both rare post-covid19 complexities. Black fungus affected nearly hundreds of people. Not only adults but children also couldn’t resist the fungal attack. The recent post-covid19 complication is bone death in India. Avascular Necrosis poses an alarming situation for the country’s medical staff as they are currently going through a tough time.
What is bone death?
Bone death is Avascular Necrosis. It is the death of bone tissues. The loss of blood supply to the bone leads to Avascular necrosis (bone death). Whenever the blood supply cuts off, there isn’t enough supply that leads to the degeneration of cells and finally damaging bones.
Usually, any injury can lead to necrosis. However, AVN is caused due to:
- Injury
- Any damage to the blood supplying vessels
- Bone fracture
- Chronic diseases
- High alcohol intake
SYMPTOMS– The body doesn’t manifest any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. However, later on, the patient may experience joint pain, ceased motion of bones. Bone damage leads to severe joint pain.
Why bone death in India is at surge?
In a hospital in Mumbai, India, doctors confirmed 3 cases of AVN. The country during April-May saw an extreme surge in the cases of coronavirus. However, since the situation begins to normalize, the post-covid complications are not leaving them. After black fungus, bone death in India has scared the paramedical staff.
Health experts are baffled as they find the overuse of steroids leading to complications. Young patients complaining about pain in the femur after recovering from the virus have developed the disease. AVN can cause permanent disability if the collapsed bone influences the joint.
Medically, researchers suggest that this might be due to over usage of steroids. Steroids are lipids. Overdose of steroids would reduce the blood flow, thereby increasing lipid levels in the body. Moreover, this would also lead to the damage of other organs of the body.
“A COVID patient who has been on steroids and develops pain around [their] hips or thighs should get diagnosed for the condition”,
Dr Mayank Vijayvargiya, a doctor from Hinduja Hospital
So, all those patients who were prescribed steroids doses during treatment of coronavirus must be alert. If feeling any pain in the bones, such patients should ultimately go for an MRI scan. This could be mainly in the longest bone, which is the femur.
Treatment for AVN
Many patients are prescribed cholesterol-reducing drugs, blood thinners, and physiotherapy, which is also very effective. Usually, when AVN occurs due to an accident, the person can heal on its own. However, in severe cases body is unable to heal on its own. Hence, the drugs mentioned above and physical activities can be effective. To relieve the pain, doctors should prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that must be non-steroidal.
If AVN is diagnosed earlier, the doctors can quickly treat it. The doctors also said that they are expecting more cases of avascular necrosis in the upcoming months.
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