Oral mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus: Case report and literature review

Biomedica. 2024 Mar 31;44(1):10-15. doi: 10.7705/biomedica.6970.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an invasive opportunistic fungal infection with high mortality, mainly detected in people with COVID-19, especially those with underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Mucormycosis prevalence is 0.005 to 1.7 cases per million inhabitants, and it has been increasing in countries like India and Pakistan. This mycosis can affect different organs, and clinical manifestations reflect the transmission mechanism. Frequent forms are rhino-orbital-cerebral and pulmonary. This disease should be suspected in patients with necrotic injuries on mucous membranes or skin. We present a case of a patient with diabetes mellitus and diagnosed with oral mucormycosis associated with COVID-19.

La mucormicosis es una infección fúngica oportunista e invasiva, con una elevada tasa de mortalidad. Se ha detectado principalmente en pacientes con COVID-19, especialmente en personas con enfermedades concomitantes como la diabetes mellitus. La prevalencia de las mucormicosis es de 0,005 a 1,7 casos por millón de habitantes y ha ido en aumento en países como India y Pakistán; puede afectar diferentes órganos y su forma clínica refleja el mecanismo de transmisión. Entre las formas frecuentes están la rino-orbital-cerebral y la pulmonar, por ello, debe sospecharse mucormicosis en los pacientes con lesiones necróticas en mucosas o piel. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con antecedentes de diabetes mellitus que fue diagnosticado con mucormicosis oral asociada a la COVID-19.

Keywords: mucormycosis; mucorals; immune tolerance; COVID-19; diabetes mellitus; mortality.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Diseases / microbiology
  • Mucormycosis* / complications
  • Mucormycosis* / diagnosis
  • Mucormycosis* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents