Mucormycosis as a complication of LOIN G COVID: A case series

ABSTRACT

Severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has a profound inflammatory phenomenon thus calling for management with high dose corticosteroids. This along with immunomodulation with the SARS-CoV2 has led to increase in opportunistic fungal infections. While aspergillosis associated with COVID-19 is a well documented association we report a case series of COVID-19 induced Mucormycosis in patients who had COVID-19 more than 3 months ago. The term used for increased inflammation for more than 3 months after COVID-19 is known as "LONG COVID" and is emerging as a entity of great concern in the recent times due to recognition of increased number of complications in patients who had earlier recovered from COVID-19. It is important to note that Diabetes Mellitus has been recognized as an important co-factor with COVID-19 in inducing mucormycosis infections. Concurrent use of glucocorticoid not only hampers the sugar control but also has immunosuppressant effect leading to predisposition to mucormycosis as an important post covid sequalae. High level of vigilance with immediate management is required to prevent adverse outcome of this serious long covid complication.