“Mucormycosis” and coronavirus disease 2019: An epidemic within the larger pandemic

Abstract

India is passing through a significant impact of Wuhan origin coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the second wave. Mucormycosis is emerging as a larger problem for our patients as compared to the first wave. Several plausible explanations have been put forth –but none has been proven as yet. We herein report eight cases of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital mucormycosis diagnosed and managed at our center. We observed a higher risk among middle-aged men, with known or covert diabetes who received high-dose steroids and/or prolonged oxygen for COVID-19 management.