What is Mucormycosis?

A fungal infection, mucormycosis affects the lungs, brain, and sinuses. The fungus is found in decaying vegetation and in the soil. It is associated with diabetes, AIDS, lymphoma, leukemia, and others with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms

• Some of the signs of rhinocerebral mucormycosis include sinus pain, sinus congestion, headache, fever, redness of the skin over the sinuses, dark nasal scabbing, eye swelling, and eye protrusion.
• Signs of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include vomiting blood and abdominal pain.
• Symptoms of renal mucormycosis are fever and side pain.
• Signs of having pulmonary mucormycosis are cough, fever, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood on occasion.
• Skin mucormycosis symptoms include a painful hard area of skin that has a black center.

Diagnosis

After a physical exam to check for symptoms, there may be a CT or MRI scan done. Taking a sample of the tissue can make a definitive diagnosis. There may be need to call in an ear-nose-and-throat doctor to check on the patient.

Treatment

There is surgery to take out the dead tissue as the top treatment. It can be disfiguring, depending on where the fungal infection is. Without this aggressive treatment, the chances of survival are much less. There is also antifungal medications that are given through an IV. There is a high death rate for this condition, ranging from 25 percent to 85 percent. Complications that may occur include nerve damage, death, clotting, blockages, and blindness.

Source: A.D.A.M.