Rhinosporidiosis: An Everyday Affair

AIM-To study the clinical profile of Rhinosporidiosis METHOD-This prospective study was conducted in Ophthalmology department at a tertiary eye care center in Western Odisha from January 2014-December 2017. Out of 62, 951 outdoor patients, 348 cases (0.55 %) had ocular and adnexal rhinosporidiosis. OBSERVATION Minimum age of presentation was 4years and maximum was 63years. Maximum cases belonged to 20-30 years (43.9 %).65.5 % cases were males and 34.5 % were females.94.8 % patients belonged to lower socioeconomic status, who used ponds (90 %) or rivers for bath. Common sites were palpebral conjunctiva (58.6 %), followed by lacrimal sac (35.1 %), subcutaneous adnexal tissue (4.6 %), bulbar conjunctiva (1.7 %). Out of 6 cases involving bulbar conjunctiva, sclera was also involved leading to scleral staphyloma in 2 patients. Those involving lacrimal sac underwent dacryocystectomy and rest were excised with base cauterization. All cases were confirmed histopathologically. Recurrence was seen in 3.16 % of sac cases.44.5 % cases presented with epistaxis. CONCLUSION Majority of cases primarily affected eyes. Transmission was through contaminated pond water. Rhinosporidiosis has high recurrence rates. It can be lowered if a complete meticulous excision along with base cauterization is performed. We recommend use of filtered supply water for all household work, including bathing.