Loss of an eye to mucormycosis following corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19

Mucormycosis is a rare, sometimes severe fungal infection that has emerged as a possible complication of COVID-19. We report a case of a non-diabetic, apparently immunocompetent patient diagnosed with rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis shortly after COVID-19 treatment with dexamethasone. The patient received optimized systemic antifungal therapy and extensive surgical treatment. So far, four months after the last hospital discharge, the patient has been in good general condition. This case is a dramatic reminder that beneficial corticosteroid therapy in general inevitably carries a risk of opportunistic infection, and corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19 risks orbital-rhinocerebral mucormycosis that clinicians should watch for with vigilance.

Translation of the quality-of-life measure for adults with primary ciliary dyskinesia and its application in patients in Brazil / Tradução do questionário de qualidade de vida para pacientes adultos com discinesia ciliar primária no Brasil

ABSTRACT Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disorder that is typically inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. It is clinically characterized by recurrent respiratory infections. However, its repercussions for patient quality of life should not be overlooked. Studies have shown that PCD has a significant impact on the lives of patients, although there are as yet no PCD-specific markers of quality of life. To address that problem, researchers in the United Kingdom developed a quality-of-life questionnaire for patients with PCD. The present communication focuses on the process of translating that questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese, through a partnership between researchers in Brazil and those in the United Kingdom, as well as its subsequent application in patients in Brazil.

RESUMO A discinesia ciliar primária (DCP) é uma doença genética de origem comumente autossômica recessiva. Caracteriza-se clinicamente por infecções respiratórias de repetição; porém, a repercussão na qualidade de vida desses pacientes deve ser levada em consideração. Estudos têm demonstrado um importante impacto da doença nesse quesito, mas ainda faltam marcadores de qualidade de vida específicos para DCP. Nesse sentido, foi desenvolvido o questionário de qualidade de vida em pacientes com DCP. O presente comunicado versa sobre o processo de tradução do questionário desenvolvido no Reino Unido para o português falado no Brasil através de uma parceria entre pesquisadores do Brasil e Reino Unido e sua posterior aplicação a pacientes brasileiros.