Epidemiological survey of rhinosporidiosis in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

One hundred and twelve nasal polyps received along with full history from three different hospitals of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu during the period 1983-1987 were found positive for rhinosporidiosis on histopathological examination. Among the four taluks (countries) the majority of the cases (41.1 per cent) came from Agastheeswaram, followed by Kalkulam (28.6 per cent), Thovalai (17.0 per cent) and Vilavancode (13.3 per cent). The 11-20 years age group found to be highly susceptible (60 per cent). There was no sex prepondence in contracting the disease as the cases were evenly distributed between both sexes. These findings exhibited the endemic nature of the disease in Kanyakumari district. Unreported cases to an extent of 9 to 40 per cent were encountered during the ENT disease diagnostic camps conducted in nine high incidence villages. Further 8 more cases were detected in addition to cases attended in the hospitals and ENT camps when a complete enumeration of cases was undertaken in Pallam village. Thus the actual number of cases found in the district need a stratified random sampling.

Ocular rhinosporidiosis: a case report from Delhi

“…Rhinosporidiosis is commonly found in South India with a very high incidence in Tamil Nadu [4,5], and in West Bengal [6,7] and Central India [8,9], as well as in other Asian counties, including Sri Lanka [1] and Nepal [1,2]. The disease is infrequently known in North India with only seven cases from Delhi [10][11][12], and these were migrants from other states.…”

“…Infection can spread in the body by lymphatic and hematogenous routes to distant sites [1,3]. Numerous cases have been reported from southern, eastern and central parts of India [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Capoor et al [10] reported from Delhi three cases of the diseases including one each with sino-nasopharyngeal, nasopharyngeal and nasal involvement; the patients were migrants from other states.…”

Rhinosporidiosis in India: a case report and review of literature

“…It has also been postulated that the disease spreads through dust, probably from the dung of cattle and horses. In a study from south India, it was most frequently found in bullocks and cows [4]. The present study is a case report from north India with the review of literature of the disease.…”

“…Various modes of transmission of rhinosporidiosis have been postulated, but none has been confirmed [3]. It is probably not a contagious infection, but the exogenous source of the infection is not known exactly [4]. An association between tapioca and chronic inflammation with rhinosporidiosis has been reported in south Indian patients [5].…”

Rhinosporidiosis in Saudi Arabia: report of four cases

“…The characteristic symptom is development of papillomatous and polypoid, hyperplastic, highly vascularized growths which are soft and friable, and may be sessile or peduncated [I]. The disease is obviously endemic in the Indian subcontinent [2,3], Sri Lanka, certain countries in East Asia [l] and in South America [2,4], however, single cases have also been reported from several countries in east, south and west Africa USA [8], and the Netherlands [9]. Here we report four cases of rhinosporidiosis in expatriate Indian workers in Saudi Arabia.…”