TY - JOUR
T1 - Neonatal colonic mucormycosis - A tropical perspective
AU - Alexander, Priya
AU - Alladi, Anand
AU - Correa, Marjorie
AU - D'Cruz, Ashley J.
PY - 2005/2
Y1 - 2005/2
N2 - Neonatal gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis is a rare, usually fatal, opportunistic fungal infection, which is difficult to diagnose early or preoperatively. We report three babies, only one of whom survived, with a review of the literature. All three had similar findings of necrosis of colon with multiple perforations. While the first baby was diagnosed as long segment Hirschsprung's, the second was treated as small left colon but went on to show signs of peritonitis. The third presented with pneumonia, which progressed to sepsis and peritonitis. All three were diagnosed by histology postoperatively and two of them succumbed, one in spite of amphotericin and the other as he was too sick to start antifungals and had a rapid downhill course. The one who survived did so even though she did not receive amphotericin, but had dear margins of resection. The only chance of survival in this fatal disease is early diagnosis and rapid institution of aggressive therapy inclusive of adequate surgical debridement and appropriate antifungal medications.
AB - Neonatal gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis is a rare, usually fatal, opportunistic fungal infection, which is difficult to diagnose early or preoperatively. We report three babies, only one of whom survived, with a review of the literature. All three had similar findings of necrosis of colon with multiple perforations. While the first baby was diagnosed as long segment Hirschsprung's, the second was treated as small left colon but went on to show signs of peritonitis. The third presented with pneumonia, which progressed to sepsis and peritonitis. All three were diagnosed by histology postoperatively and two of them succumbed, one in spite of amphotericin and the other as he was too sick to start antifungals and had a rapid downhill course. The one who survived did so even though she did not receive amphotericin, but had dear margins of resection. The only chance of survival in this fatal disease is early diagnosis and rapid institution of aggressive therapy inclusive of adequate surgical debridement and appropriate antifungal medications.
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U2 - 10.1093/tropej/fmh077
DO - 10.1093/tropej/fmh077
M3 - Article
C2 - 15601646
AN - SCOPUS:15444373010
SN - 0142-6338
VL - 51
SP - 54
EP - 59
JO - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
IS - 1
ER -