User:Mr. Ibrahem/Mucormycosis

Mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection, generally in people with less ability to fight infection. Symptoms depend on the part of the body infected. It most commonly infects the sinuses and brain resulting in a runny nose, one sided facial swelling and pain, headache, fever, and tissue death. Other forms of disease may infect the lungs, stomach and intestines, and skin.

It is generally spread by breathing in, eating food contaminated by, or getting spores of molds of the Mucorales type in an open wound. These fungi are frequently present in soil, decomposing organic matter such as rotting fruit and vegetables, and animal manure, but do not usually affect people. It is not transmitted between people. Risk factors include diabetes with persistently high sugars or diabetic ketoacidosis, low white cells, cancer, organ transplant, iron overload, kidney problems, long-term steroids or immunosuppressant use, and to a lesser extent in HIV/AIDS.

Diagnosis is by biopsy and culture, with medical imaging to help determine the extent of disease. It may appear similar to aspergillosis. Treatment is generally with amphotericin B and surgical debridement. 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. It tends to progress rapidly and is fatal in about half of sinus cases and almost all cases of the widespread type.

Mucormycosis is rare, but probably underreported. It affects fewer than 2 people per million people each year in San Francisco. However, it is around 80 times more common in India. People of any age may be affected, including premature infants. The first case of mucormycosis was possibly one described by Friedrich Küchenmeister in 1855. The disease has been reported in natural disasters; 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Missouri tornado. During the COVID-19 pandemic 2020/21, an association between mucormycosis and COVID-19 has been reported following treatment and recovery from COVID-19. A rise in cases was particularly noted in India.