Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis: A Case Series and Review of Literature

Abstract

Mucormycosis (Zygomycosis) is an invasive fungal infection, often acute and extremely severe caused by opportunist and ubiquitous fungi belonging to the class Phygomycetes, subclass Zygomycetes, order Mucorales, family Mucoraceae. COVID-19 is an infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the first case was detected, in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has been found to have many systemic manifestations. Of these, ocular presentations associated with COVID-19 have been identified. It is acquired by the implantation of the fungal spores in the oral, nasal, and conjunctival mucosa (rhino-orbito-cerebral), by inhalation (pulmonary), or by the ingestion of contaminated food (digestive). The field of neuro-ophthalmology has been affected, due to both neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19, as well as adaptations in the delivery of health care and treatment of pre-existing conditions.