I Didn’t Think “Black Fungus” Was Real — Until I Learned How Preventable It Actually Is
A few months ago, I overheard someone in a hospital waiting room mention “black fungus.” Honestly, it sounded like something from a horror film. But when I started reading more, I realized it’s not just real—it’s incredibly dangerous and something many people don’t know how to spot or prevent. That made me think: how many of us are ignoring the early signs or walking straight into risk without knowing it?
Mucormycosis, often called black fungus, is a fast-moving infection caused by molds found in soil or decaying matter. Most healthy people are safe from it, but for those with weak immunity—especially diabetics or COVID-19 survivors who’ve taken steroids—it can be deadly. That’s what really hit me: it’s not just about rare infections. It’s about who we are, what we’ve gone through, and how well we’re taking care of our health afterward.
I came across a really helpful article that breaks down the early symptoms and causes of black fungus in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming. It’s from AskDocDoc, and here’s the link if you want to read it for yourself:
https://askdocdoc.com/articles/695-how-to-prevent-black-fungus-mucormycosis-symptoms-causes--early-action
The big takeaway? Prevention isn’t complicated—but you have to know what to watch for.
One key thing I learned is how dangerous overusing steroids after COVID-19 can be. That’s echoed in this tweet from AskDoctors24:
https://twitter.com/AskDoctors24/status/1942924295744753888
Steroids are life-saving when used correctly, but overdoing them weakens your immune system fast, especially if you’re also dealing with high blood sugar.
Managing chronic conditions like diabetes is crucial too. That point came through strongly in this Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DL4xi_DOG9h/
It’s a simple reminder that staying on top of everyday health stuff makes a huge difference in stopping something as scary as black fungus before it even starts.
Environment matters, too. If you’re around dusty construction zones or not cleaning oxygen equipment properly, you’re increasing your risk. This Pinterest checklist nails the practical side of that:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279435782354
It’s basically a visual guide to making your environment safer.
Even just hearing stories from regular people makes it real. On Facebook, I saw someone share how early action helped them avoid serious complications from what turned out to be a fungal infection:
https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122132255144743210
They didn’t even know it was mucormycosis at first—just persistent nasal issues that turned out to be something more.
The medical community is speaking up, too. I saw a thoughtful LinkedIn post from a healthcare worker who emphasized that mucormycosis is very preventable when we take evidence-based precautions:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/askdocdoc_mucormycosis-is-preventable-with-evidence-based-activity-7348690076425482241-tPza
So here’s the thing. We don’t need to be scared—we need to be aware. This infection isn’t coming for everyone. But if you or someone you love is recovering from COVID, has diabetes, or uses oxygen support, you need to know the signs. You need to act fast if something feels off. And you need to talk about it, because most people still don’t even know what mucormycosis is.