A case of Covid-19-associated invasive pulmonary mucormycosis in a pediatric patient with a newly diagnosed diabetes

L Pekova; M Gulubova; M Hadzhi; M Mitev; S Angelova

doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2022.101655

A case of Covid-19-associated invasive pulmonary mucormycosis in a pediatric patient with a newly diagnosed diabetes

Respir Med Case Rep. 2022:37:101655. doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2022.101655. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Authors

L Pekova¹, M Gulubova², M Hadzhi², M Mitev³, S Angelova⁴

Affiliations

¹ Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
² Dept. of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
³ Dept. of Imaging Diagnostic, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
⁴ Dept. of Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a rare, potentially life-threatening disease that is growing during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study reports a case of an 11-year-old patient with fatal Covid-19-related pulmonary mucormicosis and diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis. The diagnosis was set post mortem. It was based on histochemical detection of the causative agent. Massive hemoptysis due to erosion of a large pulmonary vessel caused mechanical asphyxia and lethal outcome. Pulmonary mucormycosis may be highly suspected in patients with long-term Covid-19, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis, and corticosteroid therapy. Early diagnosis and treatment with Amphotericin B are potentially curative options for this invasive fungal infection and can led to better outcome.

Keywords: Covid-19 infection; Diabetes mellitus; Pediatric patient; Pulmonary mucormycosis.

Publication types

Case Reports