Diabetes mellitus as an immunosuppressive factor predisposing to mucormycosis: a case report

Abstract

Objective: To report a case study of mucormycosis in a diabetic patient with late diagnosis and consequent unfavorable evolution. Case details: 48-year-old female patient with hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and obesity. Initially, she presented with a non-specific headache and pain in the oral cavity. She was seen by a dentist who misdiagnosed her as having a dental infection and started her on amoxicillin with clavulanate. However, after a few days, her condition worsened and she sought medical attention. She already presented with an advanced condition and signs of systemic infection, and was then referred to an intensive care bed, where a fungal infection was hypothesized. Due to the severity and extent of the disease, it was decided not to perform surgery, but to continue with drug treatment. After a few days, the patient died. Final considerations: Mucormycosis is a serious and potentially fatal disease. It is an opportunistic infection, with the main group being people with decompensated diabetes mellitus. Diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion and immediate treatment, as a delay in diagnosis leads to an unfavorable outcome.