Mucormycosis (fungal infection)

Description An infection caused...

Description

An infection caused by a type of fungus that belongs to the group called Mucorales. The most common species is Rhizopus. The disease most often affects patients with weakened immune systems. The infection is also seen with complications of diabetes such as diabetic ketoacidosis. The face and sinuses are usually affected although the lungs, skin and intestines can be involved. The infection can spread from the sinuses to the brain and result in death.

Symptoms

Facial and brain infection causes headache behind the eyes, face pain, face numbness, fever, black nasal discharge, confusion, double vision, blindness. Lung infection causes fever, cough, breathing problems, cough with bloody sputum. Intestinal infection causes abdominal pain, vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal distention. Skin infection causes red hot skin, skin pain, skin swelling, black scabs on the skin (eschar).

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical will be done. Blood tests will be done to determine the severity of the infection and to help identify a weakened immune system. A biopsy of the infected area is needed to isolate the fungus.

Tests:
Biopsy, Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

Specialists:
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine

Treatment

Patients must be treated aggressively to prevent permanent damage or death. The underlying weakened immune system must be treated. Complications of diabetes will be treated with intravenous fluids and insulin. Antifungal medications such as amphotericin B are used to kill the fungus. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove dead tissue.