Mucormycosis: An unanticipated progeny of COVID-19

Abstract

The rapid surge of COVID-19 cases in the second wave of the pandemic has crippled the healthcare delivery system in Nepal and neighboring countries. Unlike in the first wave of the pandemic, several cases of mucormycosis have been reported in patients with COVID-19 from Nepal and India. In this report, we briefly describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and risk factors for mucormycosis and explore why patients with COVID-19 are at an increased risk for developing the infection. As treatment of mucormycosis is challenging and consumes a lot of resources, prevention of mucormycosis is pivotal in low-income countries like Nepal. We also highlight some basic steps that are easy to perform and important to reduce the risk of infection.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• mucormycosis
• Nepal