Gingival presentation of mucormycosis post infection with COVID-19: series of 3 cases.

Abstract

Through the evolution of this global pandemic, it became increasingly clear that patients with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney diseases (CKD), chronic cardiovascular disease, underlying malignancies, organ transplant recipients, and chronic liver disease are at increased risk for developing severe post COVID-19 complications. One such complication seen after COVID-19 is mucormycosis. Oral mucormycosis is a rare but highly fatal disease. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of rhinomaxillary mucormycosis are necessary to limit the spread of infection, which otherwise can lead to high morbidity and mortality. Dental healthcare practitioners should be familiar with its initial presentation, which if left undiagnosed or ignored can rapidly spread to the orbital and cerebral region leading to death. The case series describes the gingival clinical presentation in its initial stage, relevant basic clinical investigations, treatment, and the importance of an inter-professional team approach in the early management of patients with mucormycosis after post covid-19 infection.