Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic has created yet another healthcare issue, with the emergence of a fungal disease that has resulted in a higher fatality rate. COVID-19 patients are predisposed to fungal infections such as mucormycosis, which has been reported in patients who are currently battling and those who have recently recovered, particularly those who are medically compromised. There has been a recent increase in the incidence of rhino--maxillary mucormycosis, which has become an emerging problem. We report cases of rhino-maxillary mucormycosis presenting with early oral manifestations to help in early diagnosis and treatment.
Methods: We retrospectively investigated fourteen cases of rhino-maxillary mucormycosis presenting initially with oral findings in post-COVID-19 diabetic patients who reported to the Department of Dental surgery, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, India.
Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed for age distribution, gender variation, presence of particular clinical signs and symptoms, and correlation of clinical and histopathological and radiological findings. Using statistical software SPSS V2, the Student t-test and chi-square test were applied to the data. P-value equal to or less than 0.05 is considered statistically significant (P<0.05).
Results: There was a statistically (P<0.05) significant gender variation, males showed marked predominance(79%), prominent age distribution observed in middle age (40-60 y) when compared to younger and older age group, and a significant correlation between clinical, histopathological and radiological findings were observed.
Conclusions: Rhino-maxillary mucormycosis is a fatal, emerging fungal infection in COIVD- 19 diabetic patients requiring multidisciplinary surgical and medical management. It is observed that early oral manifestations are present in these patients; early detection of these cases through a thorough examination and proper interpretation of clinical and other investigatory findings may prevent the further worsening of infection, helps to save the patient’s life and to make the better prognosis of this deadly disease.

Key words: Mucormycosis, COVID 19, fungal infection, immunocompromised patients