Abstract

POMARADA, María E et al. COVID-19 associated mucormycosis. Literature review for dentists. Rev. Asoc. Odontol. Argent. [online]. 2022, vol.110, n.2, pp.8-8. ISSN 2683-7226.  http://dx.doi.org/10.52979/raoa.1100851.1168.

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection, with high morbidity and mortality. It occurs mainly in patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, immunocompromised, on chronic treatment with steroids, among others.

Currently, it is believed that the COVID-19 pandemic and the corticosteroid treatments could be one of the causes of increased cases.

This fungus invades the vascular system, occluding arterial blood flow and generating rapid thrombosis and ischemia, which causes necrosis of hard and soft tissues, with rapid invasion to the surrounding tissues.

There are several clinical forms. In the oral cavity, the rhino-orbito-cerebral variant presents itself affecting the palate in the form of an erythematous or grayish lesion that can progress towards the formation of a necrotic mass or ulceration with very little mucosal bleeding. It manifests itself with typical symptoms of rhinosinusitis, with fever and pain in the upper teeth.

The treatment consists of three fundamental pillars: diagnosis, proper management of comorbidities and the combination of antifungal and surgical therapies.

Since 2020, COVID-19 associated mucormycosis became an event of mandatory immediate notification to the National Health Surveillance System (SNVS2.0,) through the Argentina Integrated Health Information System (SISA).

It is important to emphasize that mucormycosis cases had been reported following tooth extractions, which drives to strengthen knowledge about this disease, extreme preventive measures and encourage early diagnosis in dental care, due to the speed of the evolution of the pathology.

Keywords : dentistry; fungal infections; zygomycosis.

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