Nasal Rhinosporidiosis in a Nigerian Child: A Rare Clinical Entity

Daniel Aliyu, Sadikku Mallami Sahabi

Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Department of Histopathology, Usmanu Danfodiyo Uni-versity Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2014.31011                

Abstract

Background: Rhinosporidiosis is a rare chronic granulomatous disease characterized by polypous lesion of the mucous membrane caused by rhinosporidium seeberi which predominantly affects the mucous membrane of the Naso-pharynx, conjuctiva and palate. Rhinosporidiosis can be easily misdiagnosed as a neoplastic disease, and hence, it is necessary to educate the public and medical community about this emerging disease entity in our region. Aim: To report a rare case of nasal rhinosporidiosis in a 13-year-old male patient from Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Case Report: A 13-year-old male Quranic child from gwadabawa village in Sokoto State, North Western Nigeria, whose parents are rice farmers, presented in the ENT clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital with 15-month history of intermittent epistaxis and left nasal mass noticed one month before presenting. He was examined clinically and a pinkish polypoidal mass arising from the septum and filling the left nasal cavity was seen. He subsequently had a biopsy of the mass and histopathological examination with special histochemical staining, which confirmed rhinosporidiosis. Conclusion: Rhinospridiosis is an unusual cause of nasal masses in our region and is probably a fungal disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in this region. This lesion largely mimics ordinary nasal polyp; therefore, it is an important possible differential diagnosis to be considered in our region when evaluating patients with nasal masses.

Keywords

Rhinosporidiosis; Nasal Mass; Fungal; Child; Nigeria; Granulomatous

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	S. N. Arsecularatne, “Recent Advances in Rhinosporidiosis and Rhinosporidium seeberi,” Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 20, No. 3, 2002, pp. 119-131.
[2]	S. Uledi and F. Ayubu, “Human Nasal Rhinosporidiosis: A Case Report from Malawi,” The Pan African Medical Journal, Vol. 9, 2011, p. 27.
[3]	S. N. Arseculeratne, S. Sumathipala and N. B. Eriyagama, “Patterns of Rhinosporidiosis in Sri Lanka Comparison with International Data,” The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2010, pp. 175-191.
[4]	S. Nayak, B. Acharjya, B. Devi, A. Sahoo and N. Singh, “Disseminated Cutaneous Rhinosporidiosis,” Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Vol. 73, No. 3, 2007, pp. 185-187. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0378-6323.32744
[5]	S. N. Arseculeratne and L. Mendoza, “Rhinosporidiosis,” In: W. G. Merz and R. Hay, Eds., Topley and Wilson’s Microbiology and Microbial Infections, 10th Edition, ASM Press, Hodder Arnold, 2005, pp. 436-475.
[6]	C. N. Pereira, I. Di Rosa, A. Fagotti, F. Simoncelli, R. Pascolini and L. Mendoza, “The Pathogen of Frogs and Amphibiocystidium ranae is a Member of the Order Dermocystida in the Class Mesomycetozoea,” Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Vol. 43, No. 1, 2005, pp. 192-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.43.1.192-198.2005
[7]	V. Thankamani, M. S. Lipin-Dev, “Rhinosporidium seeberi Proven as a Fungus for the First Time after a Century Since Its Discovery,” Research in Biotechnology, Vol. 3, No.1, 2012, pp. 41-46.
[8]	V. Thankamani and M. S. Lipin-Dev, “Demonstration of Viability and Development Stages of 10 Years old Refrigerated Culture of Rhinosporidium seeberi (?) UMH.48 First Ever Isolated from Nasal Rhinosporidiosis Yet Another Milestone, a Tribute to Guillermo Seeber,” Journal of Biotechnology and Biotherapeutics—IJPI’s Journal, Vol. 1, 2011, pp. 11-21.
[9]	K. Kumara, S. Saranga, E. Navaratne, A. Dhammika and A. Sarath, “The Identification of the Natural Habitat of Rhinosporidium seeberi with R. seeberi-Specific in Situ Hybridization Probes,” Journal of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Agents, Vol. 25, 2008, pp. 25-32.
[10]	B. C. Ezeanolue and M. A. C. Odike, “Nasal Rhinosporidiosis: A Case Report and Outcome of Therapy with Fluconazole,” Nigerian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2004, pp. 22-24.