EXPONENTIAL RISE IN INCIDENCE OF MUCORMYCOSIS IN THE MONTH OF APRIL &MAY 2021

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection occurs due to acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be associated with mild disease to life-threatening pneumonia. The incidence of opportunistic fungal infections is dramatically increased in COVID-19 patients with diabetes, mechanical ventilation and cytokine storm. The present prospective study has focused on summarizing the fungal infections reported in COVID-19 positive or post-COVID patients. Aims: To estimate the age and sex wise incidence and clinical presentation of mucormycosis in Post-COVID patients and to diagnose the mucormycosis as early as possible. Methods: A present study consists of 554 newly diagnosed cases of mucormycosis over a period of two months i.e. from 1st April, 2021 to 31st May, 2021. Out of them 531 cases of routine histopathological examination were processed in autotechnicon and stained with H & E stain. The 21 cases of rapid diagnosis for mucormycosis were studied by KOH, LPCB preparation and H & E stained smear examination. Results: A total of 554 cases of mucormycosis were diagnosed during last two months. The incidence is highest in May 2021 (90.76 %) after the second wave of COVID-19 infection. The highest incidence was identified in 6th decade of life with 34.52% followed by 5th decade (22.51%). The most common complaint was Headache (36.82 %). The other complaints were eye swelling and eye pain (17.15 %), facial swelling (9.93 %) and facial pain (9.57 %). Decreased vision or loss of vision was also noted. The most commonly involved site is bilateral nasal cavity (77.44 %). The incidence is also higher in known case of diabetes. Conclusion: COVID19 is associated with a significant rise in incidence of secondary infections, particularly fungal infection – mucormycosis.