Rhinosporiodosis (fungal sinus infection)

Ear Nose | Otorhinolaryngology | Rhinosporiodosis (fungal sinus infection) (Disease)


Description

Rhinosporidiosis is a granulomatous disease affecting the mucous membrane of nasopharynx, oropharynx, conjunctiva, rectum and external genitalia. It is an infection that occurs in the nose caused by the fungus, Rhinosporidium seeberi.

Rhinosporidiosis usually affects persons in or from southern India and Sri Lanka. Cases have been reported worldwide, with an increased incidence in South America and Africa. The symptoms are: nose bleeds, nasal fullness, persistently runny nose, foreign body sensation in the nose.

Causes and Risk factors

The most common sites where it appears are the floor of the nose and inferior turbinate, but the lesions may appear elsewhere too. Traumatic inoculation from one site to another is common. Laryngeal rhinosporidiosis has been also described and may be due to inoculation in the nose during endotracheal intubation.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Local surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Recurrence has been reported with simple excision. Wide excision with electrocoagulation of the lesional base has been promoted to decrease recurrences. Complications of the disease include extremely rare, life-threatening dissemination, local secondary bacterial infection, and recurrence. ...