Mucormycosis
Fungal infection / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus,[3][4] is a serious fungal infection that comes under fulminant fungal sinusitis,[11] usually in people who are immunocompromised.[9][12] It is curable only when diagnosed early.[11] Symptoms depend on where in the body the infection occurs.[13][14] It most commonly infects the nose, sinuses, eyes and brain resulting in a runny nose, one-sided facial swelling and pain, headache, fever, blurred vision, bulging or displacement of the eye (proptosis), and tissue death.[1][6] Other forms of disease may infect the lungs, stomach and intestines, and skin.[6] The fatality rate is about 54%.
It is spread by spores of molds of the order Mucorales, most often through inhalation, contaminated food, or contamination of open wounds.[15] These fungi are common in soils, decomposing organic matter (such as rotting fruit and vegetables), and animal manure, but usually do not affect people.[16] It is not transmitted between people.[14] Risk factors include diabetes with persistently high blood sugar levels or diabetic ketoacidosis, low white blood cells, cancer, organ transplant, iron overload, kidney problems, long-term steroids or use of immunosuppressants, and to a lesser extent in HIV/AIDS.[7][9]
Diagnosis is by biopsy and culture, with medical imaging to help determine the extent of disease.[5] It may appear similar to aspergillosis.[17] Treatment is generally with amphotericin B and surgical debridement.[8] Preventive measures include wearing a face mask in dusty areas, avoiding contact with water-damaged buildings, and protecting the skin from exposure to soil such as when gardening or certain outdoor work.[10] It tends to progress rapidly and is fatal in about half of sinus cases and almost all cases of the widespread type.[2][18]
Mucormycosis is usually rare, [8] but is now ~80 times more common in India.[19] People of any age may be affected, including premature infants.[8] The first known case of mucormycosis was possibly the one described by Friedrich Küchenmeister in 1855.[1] The disease has been reported in natural disasters; 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Joplin tornado.[20] During the COVID-19 pandemic, an association between mucormycosis and COVID-19 has been reported. This association is thought to relate to reduced immune function during the course of the illness and may also be related to glucocorticoid therapy for COVID-19.[4][21] A rise in cases was particularly noted in India.[22]