Diagnosis and Treatment of Conidiobolomycosis: A Review of 75 Cases from the Indian Subcontinent
OM01-OM03
Correspondence
Dr. Manish Soneja,
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Teaching Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India.
E-mail: manishsoneja@gmail.com
Introduction: Conidiobolomycosis is a subcutaneous rhinofacialzygomycosis caused by Conidiobolus spp. Its epidemiology in the Indian subcontinent is not well understood.
Aim: The aim of this study was epidemiological characterisation of conidiobolomycosis in the Indian subcontinent.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a review of literature using the terms “conidiobolomycosis”, “conidiobolus”, “entomophthoramycosis” and “entomophthoromycosis” in the Pubmed database combined with the following: India and publication language (English).
Results: A total of 75 cases of conidiobolomycosis were reported from 12 states of India, between October 1966 and December 2017, who presented with centrofacial swelling (males-62, females-13). The mean age of presentation was 35 years. Majority of the patients were immunocompetent with only one patient being immunosuppressed (acute leukaemia). A total of 21 patients were diagnosed only on the basis of culture, while the rest of them were diagnosed either on histopathology alone (n=33) or a combination of histopathology and culture (n=21). Saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) was the most common drug (alone or in combination) used for treatment. Except one mortality, which was unrelated to the disease, all patients (n=56) responded to therapy.
Conclusion: Conidiobolomycosis is reported from most parts of the country, primarily in immunocompetent males and has an excellent response to anti-fungals.