Mucormycosis

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Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, is a severe fungal infection that may cause fulminant fungal sinusitis, usually in people who are immunocompromised. It is mostly curable when diagnosed early. Symptoms depend on where in the body the infection occurs. It most commonly infects the nose, sinuses, eyes and brain resulting in a runny nose, one-sided facial swelling and pain, headache, fever, blurred vision, bulging or displacement of the eye (proptosis), and tissue death. Other sites of infection may include the lungs, stomach and intestines, and skin. It tends to progress rapidly and is fatal in about half of sinus cases and almost all cases of the widespread type. It is spread by spores of molds of the order Mucorales, most often through inhalation, contaminated food, or contamination of open wounds. These fungi are common in soils, decomposing organic matter (such as rotting fruit and vegetables), and animal manure, but usually do not affect people. It is not transmitted between...

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