Symptoms of Mucormycosis

The symptoms of mucormycosis depend on where in the body the fungus is growing. 1,4 Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that you think are related to mucormycosis.

Symptoms of rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis include:

  • One-sided facial swelling
  • Headache
  • Nasal or sinus congestion
  • Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe
  • Fever

Symptoms of pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath

Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis can look like blisters or ulcers, and the infected area may turn black. Other symptoms include pain, warmth, excessive redness, or swelling around a wound.

Symptoms of gastrointestinal mucormycosis include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding

Disseminated mucormycosis typically occurs in people who are already sick from other medical conditions, so it can be difficult to know which symptoms are related to mucormycosis. Patients with disseminated infection in the brain can develop mental status changes or coma.

References
  1. Petrikkos G, Skiada A, Lortholary O, Roilides E, Walsh TJ, Kontoyiannis DP. Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of mucormycosisexternal icon. Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Feb;54 Suppl 1:S23-34.
  2. Lewis RE, Kontoyiannis DP. Epidemiology and treatment of mucormycosisexternal icon. Future Microbiol. 2013 Sep;8(9):1163-75.
  3. Spellberg B, Edwards Jr. J, Ibrahim A. Novel perspectives on mucormycosis: pathophysiology, presentation, and managementexternal icon. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2005 Jul;18(3):556-69.
  4. Ribes JA, Vanover-Sams CL, Baker DJ. Zygomycetes in human diseaseexternal icon. Clin Microbiol Rev 2000; 13:236-301.