Zygomycosis

Alternative names

Mucormycosis

Definition

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection of the sinuses, brain, or lungs that occurs primarily in people with immune disorders.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Mucormycosis is caused by common fungi frequently found in the soil and in decaying vegetation. Most individuals are exposed to these fungi on a daily basis - but people with immune disorders may be more susceptible to infection.

Conditions most commonly associated with mucormycosis include diabetes mellitus, chronic steroid use, metabolic acidosis, organ transplantation, leukemia/lymphoma, treatment with deferoxamine, and AIDS.

Syndromes associated with mucormycosis include:

• Rhinocerebral infection (infection of sinuses and brain)
  o May start as a sinus infection
  o May progress to involve inflammation of cranial nerves
  o May cause blood clots that block vessels to the brain (thrombosis)
  
• Pulmonary mucormycosis (lung involvement) - rapidly progressive pneumonia that may spread to the chest cavity, heart, and brain.
  
• Mucormycosis of the gastrointestinal tract, skin, and kidneys.
  

Symptoms

Symptoms of rhinocerebral mucormycosis include the following:

• Acute sinusitis
  
• Fever
  
• Eye swelling and protrusion of eye orbit (proptosis)
  
• Dark nasal eschar (scabbing)
  
• Redness of skin overlying sinuses
  

Symptoms of pulmonary mucormycosis include the following:

• Fever
  
• Cough
  
• Coughing blood (occasionally)
  
• Shortness of breath
  

Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include the following:

• Abdominal pain
  
• Vomiting blood
  

Symptoms of renal mucormycosis include the following:

• Flank pain
  
• Fever
  

of cutaneous mucormycosis include a single, painful, hardened area of skin that may have a blackened central area.