Unusual orbital mucormycosis due to pecking injury: clinical characteristics and outcomes of four immunocompetent pediatric patients.

Abstract

Mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection caused by fungi in the order of Mucorales. Orbital mucormycosis occurs more frequently in rhino-orbital, sino-orbital, and rhino-orbito-cerebral forms of the disease, while isolated orbital mucormycosis is much less common. Herein, we present four cases of immunocompetent children who developed primary cutaneous mucormycosis, which subsequently invaded and progressed to orbital mucormycosis following direct traumatic injury caused by pecking from Acridotheres tristis (Common Myna). Given the low prevalence of orbital mucormycosis in healthy children, an unknown source of infection and delayed diagnosis followed by late therapeutic interventions could result in life-threatening conditions and serious sequelae.