Rhinosporidiosis: a clinicopathological study from a Rural Tertiary Health Care Centre, Bihar, India

Abstract

Background: Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous infection characterized by a bleeding polypoidal mass which commonly affects the nose and nasopharynx. The disease is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. It grows in stagnant water and is thought to be transmitted to human by infected soil and water by gaining entry through traumatized epithelium and mucosa of nose and nasopharynx. It has a high incidence of occurrence among rural population. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Methods: Totally, 26 patients of histologically proven cases of rhinosporidiosis were included in this clinicopathological study. The mode of presentation in all these patients was polypoidal nasal mass causing recurrent bleeding and nasal obstruction. The period of study was from May 2010 to April 2014. All patients treated surgically were followed-up from 6 months to 1 year. Results: There were 26 patients of histologically proven rhinosporidiosis of nose and nasopharynx. Of total 26 cases, there were 19 males and 9 female patients in our study with a male to female ratio of 2.7:1. The age of presentation varied from 14 years to 67 years, most patients presenting in the second to sixth decade of life with maximum patients in the third and fourth decade of life and were from rural and poor socioeconomic background. Recurrent cases were given dapsone. Conclusion: Rhinosporidiosis which was previously thought to be a fungus is now considered as a protoctista parasite, which involves fish and other amphibians, a fungus like protozoa of the class mesomycetozoea.

Retroanalytical Study of Epidemiological Factors of Rhinosporidiosis

“…16,21 People belonging to lower socioeconomic status were found to be more affected. 12,15,17 In the current study, the majority of the cases was from rural areas (81.82%), and most of the affected individuals were students, followed by laborers. The major portion of cases belonged to the lower socioeconomic status.…”

“…Previous studies have found that patients affected with the disease had history of taking baths in ponds, rivers, tanks, lakes, reservoirs, and wells. 4,12,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] All cases in the present study also had history of pond bathing. This shows the constant exposure of the patients to infected water sources.…”

“…[13][14][15] Hence, we can conclude that mostly young and middle aged persons are affected by rhinosporidiosis. Most studies have found that farmers, students, and manual laborers were mainly affected by rhinosporidiosis 4, 12,16,17 The disease was found to affect people residing in rural areas, 12,15,[17][18][19][20] and some studies show higher incidence in tribal populations. 16,21 People belonging to lower socioeconomic status were found to be more affected.…”

Two Year Hospital Based Study on Rhinosporidiosis in and Around Dhanbad District, Jharkhand, India

“…In comparison to present study, similar results were observed in a study from Bihar. [9] Present study findings suggest that person with nasal mass and practice of pond bathing with poor hygiene, Rhinosporidium seeberi infection can be the primary cause. However, among the negative cases differential diagnosis must be followed for inverted papilloma and non-invasive fungal sinusitis.…”

Rhinosporidiosis- A retrospection

“…Dapsone is given as an adjuvant to surgical treatment to prevent recurrence. 11,14 Definitive diagnosis is by histopathology which show many round, thick walled sporangia in the submucosa containing sporangiospores. 4 Objectives of the Study 1.…”