Symptoms of Mucormycosis

Symptoms

Mucormycosis is rare and usually affects people with very weak immune systems. People can get mucormycosis after exposure to spores from a group of molds called mucoromycetes, which are common indoors and outdoors.

The mold spores can get into and infect the body three ways:

• Inhalation (breathing the spores in).
• Through cuts, scrapes, or wounds.
• Eating or drinking something contaminated.

Each way that a person can be infected can cause different forms of mucormycosis. Each form has different symptoms.

Rhino-orbital-cerebral (sinus, eyes, and brain)

Rhino-orbital-cerebral (sinus, eyes, and brain) mucormycosis can cause:

• Fever
• One-sided facial swelling
• Headache
• Vision changes
• Nasal or sinus congestion
• Black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth

Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis

Pulmonary mucormycosis can cause:

• Fever
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath.

Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis

Cutaneous mucormycosis can cause blisters or ulcers, and the infected area may turn black.

Other symptoms include pain, warmth, redness, or swelling around a wound.

Gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) mucormycosis

Gastrointestinal mucormycosis can cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and bleeding.

Disseminated (widespread) mucormycosis

Disseminated mucormycosis, the most severe form, develops when mucormycosis (any form) spreads to other parts of the body.

People are already very sick before they get disseminated mucormycosis. It is hard to know which symptoms are caused by mucormycosis and which are from their other illness or conditions.

The most common site of spread is the brain, which can cause mental status changes or coma. It can also spread to the spleen, heart, skin, and other organs.