Invasive Fungal Infection of The Eye Thought to be Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections are rare in children and are even more rare in immunocompetent children. Invasive fungal infections can masquerade as other granulomatous diseases like Tuberculosis, which is highly prevalent in India. We herewith report one such case of a 6-year-old boy with swelling over the right orbit diagnosed as Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis of the right orbit and started on ATT (anti-tubercular treatment) for the same. However repeat analysis of the biopsy sample with appropriate staining techniques and high degree of suspicion was diagnosed to have invasive fungal infection, which responded well with use of IV and Oral antifungals. Clinicians should always keep invasive fungal infections as a differential diagnosis with any immunocompetent or immunocompromised child presenting with granulomatous inflammation and proper staining techniques used on the biopsy sample. Keywords: Invasive fungal infection; Immunocompetent; Staining techniques