Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences

View all Images (8)

Rhinosporidiosis
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Rhinosporidiosis

Contributors: Edith Lederman MD, Noah Craft MD, PhD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Rhinosporidiosis is a granulomatous mucosal infection caused by an aquatic protistan parasite (formerly thought to be a fungus), Rhinosporidium seeberi. This disease is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and East Africa but has been reported in North America and Europe on occasion.

Patients most often present with nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Because the disease almost always remains localized, they do not present with constitutional symptoms. Rarely, lesions may occur on genital mucous membranes. Lesions on extremities, trunk, or scalp occur rarely as well, and they may lead to underlying osteomyelitis. Overall, lesions other than nasal or ocular may occur in up to 8% of cases.

The inciting event is unknown, but trauma followed by environmental exposure is suspected. Men who have exposures to stagnant water that is used by livestock appear to be at increased risk, but the relationship is poorly understood. Young men (aged between 10 and 30), divers, and farmers are most commonly affected, with the exception of the ocular variant (oculosporidiosis), which occurs more commonly in women who live in urban settings. The lesions slowly progress over time; patients may present anywhere from 2 weeks to several years after becoming aware of the lesion.

Immunocompromised patient considerations: Case reports in immunocompromised patients are rare, but HIV coinfection may be associated with more extensive and numerous lesions.

Codes

ICD10CM:
B48.1 – Rhinosporidiosis

SNOMEDCT:
18140003 – Rhinosporidiosis

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Updated:01/02/2022
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Rhinosporidiosis
A medical illustration showing key findings of Rhinosporidiosis (Nasal) : Nasal obstruction, Nasal polyps, Epistaxis
Clinical image of Rhinosporidiosis - imageId=2231885. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'Multiple crusted, vegetative, papules, plaques, and nodules on the shoulder.'
Multiple crusted, vegetative, papules, plaques, and nodules on the shoulder.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.