Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in an 11-year-old boy

A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis admitted for treatment developed features characteristic of rhinocerebral mucormycosis, confirmed by histopathologic examination, is presented. The patient had been experiencing symptoms of diabetes for one month before presentation to the hospital in state of diabetic ketoacidosis. Within a few days of admission he developed mucormycosis of the nasal cavity and the orbit which extended to the brain very fast and resulted in death. High index of suspicion form the clinical presentation in an immunocompromised patient, especially, one with diabetic ketoacidosis, is suggested to effect early intervention.