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Mucormycosis during Coronavirus Disease pandemic: A diagnosis we cannot afford to miss
Kaneesh Karthik Arthanari1, Sivakumar Annamalai1, Arthiie Thangavelu2, Chandrika Palanivelu3, Gowtham Suresh4, Sambavi Anbuselvan5
1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, JKK Nattraja Dental College, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Periodontics, JKK Nattraja Dental College, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India
3 Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, JKK Nattraja Dental College, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India
4 Department of Dental Surgery, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
5 Department of Ophthalmology, Arasan Eye Hospital, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
Correspondence Address:
Kaneesh Karthik Arthanari
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, JKK Nattraja Dental College, Kumarapalayam, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_444_21
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Mucormycosis is a very aggressive, devastating opportunistic fungal infection commonly involving nasal, maxillary,orbital, and cerebral regions. In the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a high frequency of mucormycosis infections has been seen because of the triad of COVID-19, systemic steroids, and preexisting diabetes mellitus. A patient might present with a simple mobile tooth/teeth with multiple gingival abscesses Necrotic bone could be seen in the palate. Blackish discoloration might be present in the oral mucosa. There might be extraoral swelling . If rhino-oculo cerebral mucormycosis is diagnosed, then there are two immediate treatment modalities to be followed. Both surgical and medical treatment are necessary. Surgical is thorough debridement of the necrotic tissue. To prevent the occurrence of mucormycosis, meticulous glycemic control and rational use of steroids and antibiotics for the shortest possible time with adequate attention toward the ventilators and tubing are necessary.
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