MUCORMYCOSIS

Abstract

The present report is that of a child with the typical symptomatology of Mucormycosis of the central nervous system. The diagnosis was established during life by biopsy and culture. The organism was identified as Rhizopus arrhizus, a member of the family Mucoraceae. The patient recovered on therapy which consisted of rigid control of the diabetes, desensitization against the fungus and the administration of iodides. The literature on "Mucor'" infections in humans has been reviewed with particular reference to the rare instances of involvement of the nervous system. The typical story is that of a poorly controlled diabetic patient who develops a fulminating orbital or nasal infection and dies in a few days with signs of invasion of the central nervous system. Examination reveals a necrotizing, inflammatory and vascular occlusive process in which broad non-septate hyphae may be seen. Until the present case, diagnosis has not been made during life, the infecting fungus has not been cultured or identified and no patient has survived.