Clinical Features, Risk Factors and Mortality of Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis and its Relation to Covid-19

Abstract

Background: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a uncommon opportunistic fungal infection of the sinuses, nasal passages, orbit, oral cavity, and brain. commonly affects individuals with diabetes and those in immunocompromised state.

Aim of study: To study the clinical features, risk factor, and outcome of Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis and their relationship to covid-19 infection.

Patients and methods: This retrospective study was done at Al-Imamain Al-Kadhimyain teaching medical city during the period from January 2021 to December 2021. Data collections were obtained from case file. All patients were diagnosed clinicaly and endoscopically with histopathological confirmation.

Result: The mean age of patients is 55.8 years with slightly increased incidence in female. Diabetes mellitus was the most common disease associated disease in 77 % of cases followed by chronic kidney disease in 22 % followed by hematological malignancy in 20%. Patients had a history of confirmed covid-19 infection in 86 %. Patients had facial and ocular pain in 100%, nasal obstruction in 90%, fever in 81 ,77% had periorbital odema. Orbital invasion seen in 45 %, intracrainal invasion seen in 27 % of patients. Mortality rate was 27 %.

Conclusion: Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is an invasive, and often fatal commonly affects those with underlying diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression patients and COVID-19 patients. Diagnosis relies on nasendoscopy, CT imaging and histopathological analysis.