Background: Rhinosporidiosis was described first by Seeberi in 1900 and is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. It involves nasal mucosa, and is seen in both humans and animals. It is a waterborne disease endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Objectives: To study the clinicopathological profile of Rhinosporidiosis in rural Kerala. Methodology: The study included 30 cases of Rhinosporidiosis over a period of 2 years. All were diagnosed on a clinical basis. All subjects were treated surgically by wide excision and electrocautery, and the specimens were sent for histopatholgical examination. Dapsone was given to all patients with recurrence. Subjects were followed up for complications, outcome and recurrence. Observation: The study was carried out over a period of 2 years with patients being between 7 and 70 years of age. There were 22 male patients and 8 female patients indicating a male preponderance. The main symptoms were nasal bleeding and nasal obstruction in about 75%. Nose was the commonest site involved. Conclusion:The study reflects the endemicity of this disease in rural Kerala. High incidence is noticed in those bathing in ponds accessed by cattle, and raising health awareness among public regarding this disease would go a long way in decreasing its incidence.

Background and objectives: Hearing loss present at birth is one of the major disabilities in childhood, the early detection of which can prevent further disability in speech, language and cognition. The prevalence of congenital hearing loss has been estimated to be 1.2 -5.7 per thousand live births and is more among high risk neonates. In this context the present study was conducted as an attempt to find the prevalence of hearing loss among high risk neonates and the associated risk factors. Methodology: The present study was a hospital based cross sectional study conducted at a tertiary care centre in Trivandrum, Kerala during the period of November 2012 to October 2014. A total of 231 high risk babies were assessed by 2 staged DPOAE screening and those who failed the second stage DPOAE screening were subjected to diagnostic Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry. Results: 0.9% of the high risk babies had hearing loss. Both the neonates who had sensorineural hearing loss were males and had identifiable risk factors, such as hyperbilirubinemia, ototoxicity, neurological deficits and congenital malformation. Conclusion:The two staged screening protocol with Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission and confirmation by Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry was found to be a useful tool in detecting hearing loss in newborn. Hence the results of this study will be used to initiate universal newborn hearing screening in our hospital. Moreover our study highlights the relevance of neonatal hearing screening in our country where this screening is not performed routinely in all hospitals.

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Background: The occurrence of hearing loss in the course of chronic renal failure (CRF) was investigated in numerous research studies, attempting to explain both the etiological factors and treatment possibilities. According to various authors, the percentage of occurrence of hearing loss in patients suffering from CRF differs between 20% and 80%.Objectives: Our study was conducted in this context as an attempt to find the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in chronic renal failure patients, to assess the frequency and type of hearing loss in patients with CRF, to find any correlation between duration of illness and SNHL and also to assess the etiological factors related to sensorineural hearing loss among chronic renal failure patients.Methodology:This is a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted at Dr S.M.C.S.I. Medical college, Karakonam, during the period November 2013 -June 2015. A sample of 89 chronic renal failure patients were assessed by pure-tone audiogram.Results: Out of the 89 chronic renal failure patients, 57 patients (64%) were detected to have sensorineural hearing loss in the order of frequency high>mid>low frequency. In this study, there is a statistically significant correlation between age of the patients and stage of the disease with SNHL. However there is no significant correlation between duration of chronic renal failure and blood parameters with SNHL.Conclusion: SNHL is common among patients with chronic renal failure. Hence a pure tone audiometry should be done routinely in all chronic renal failure patients even if they don't report hearing loss. Moreover periodic audiological assessment should be incorporated in their management to start rehabilitation as early as possible.