Rhinosporidiosis is an enigmatic disease which has been known to medicine since 1900 following its first description by Guillermo Seeber in Buenos Aires, Argentina, who proposed the infective aetiology for this disease to be a fungus, which was later isolated by Ashworth in 1923, who in turn described the life cycle of the organism and established the nomenclature Rhinosporidium seeberi.
Disease is endemic in India, Sri Lanka, and tropical areas of Africa and South America
Aetiology
Rhinosporidum seeberi
Aquatic protista classified under Mesomycetozoea
Transmission occurs by bathing in stagnant ponds where animals also bathe.
Clinical features
Strawberry like bleeding polyp in the nose and in severe cases as disseminated rhinosporidiosis.
Most commonly it affects the nose, although mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, conjunctiva, rectum, and external genitalia can also be involved.
Diagnosis
Excision biopsy:
Diagnosis is confirmed with excision biopsy of the lesion
Typical sporangia in tissue
Management
Surgical management:
Treatment of choice
Surgical excision followed by cauterization of base (prevent recurrence)