Rhinocerebral zygomycosis: an unusual dramatic presentation in a paediatric cardiac patient without risk factors

Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive infection caused by ubiquitous filamentous fungi of the order Mucorales. We describe a case of rhinocerebral mucormycosis presented in a paediatric patient after cardiac surgery correction of a complete atrioventricular canal defect. The rhinocerebral form of mucormycosis in our patient presented as an important epistaxis that needed immediate intubation due to blood inhalation. Furthermore, due to the worsening of pulmonary function, the patient also needed mechanical support with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The patient died as a consequence of a disseminated form of fungal infection. We describe our experience of this rare opportunistic infection and we think that early recognition of the disease could help in proper management.