Socio-demographic Correlates of Rhinosporidiosis: A Hospital-Based Epidemiologic Study in Purulia, India

Abstract

The present paper attempts to explore the sociodemographic profile of patients with rhinosporidiosis in an endemic area. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary-care hospital in Purulia district, India, including consecutive patients with histologically-proved rhinosporidiosis. Their socio-demographic profiles were obtained through a pre-designed proforma with given epidemiologic parameters. Data was statistically analyzed with inputs from literature review. Of the 39 patients included, 87 % were fresh/new cases. The age-group of 10-20 years was mostly involved, with multiple peaks around 50. About 82 % were from rural background, commonly involved in cattle farming and agriculture, with a universal habit of pond-bathing. There was a male preponderance; however women were being increasingly affected. Nasal cavity was the predominant site involved; nasal obstruction and epistaxis were the primary complaints. About 13 % had recurrent lesions that were statistically related to higher age-group (C15 years) and occupation (agriculture, labor). Rhinosporidiosis is predominantly the disease of young rural adults engaged in field activities and habituated to pondbathing. A bimodal age distribution was noticed. The present article provides an update on the socio-demographic perspectives of rhinosporidiosis in an endemic zone. It also summarizes the factors that would identify the vulnerable population and help formulate preventive measures.

Biocontrol of Oreochromis mossambicus Population by Chitala chitala (Hamilton, 1822) in a Composite Carp Culture System of Purulia District in West Bengal, India

“…Wide fluctuation of water temperatures among different treatments has been recorded during cultivation. Temperature dropped below 20°C was found to a major reason for reducing growth performances of warm water fishes [49], similar unavoidable circumstances also observed during this study and considered to be a potential reason which affected overall fish productivity as temperature dropped below its ideal range for at least two months during on-going of cultivation in winter, considered to be a common environmental condition of Purulia [50]. Farmers have faced challenges during maintaining pH level above 7.00 in all treatments, which was a natural phenomenon in the north eastern region of Purulia as ground water their possessed acidic nature [51].…”

Rhinosporidiosis—Factors predicting disease recurrence

“…6 The common risk factors are related to the tropical climate zones, activities involving contact with contaminated soil, mud or water as in cattle farming, river workers and agriculture and habit of bathing in still water like ponds. 7 These are the potential reasons for the higher prevalence of the disease in rural population which was around 82% in a study by Dutta et al 8 In the present study too, half the patients had history of bathing in ponds. This highlights the need to increase community awareness regarding risks of bathing in stagnant water especially if the pond is used to bath animals too.…”

External dacryocystorhinostomy for isolated lacrimal sac rhinosporidiosis – A suitable alternative to dacryocystectomy

“…These features matched well with the socio-demographic correlates of rhinosporidiosis described in the literature. [14] Nuruddin et al published the only other paper in the ophthalmic literature that describes a study similar to the current one. [6] They reported a series of 18 patients with the highest occurrence of infection in the 25–34 year age group (<15 years for the current study), a male to female preponderance of 3.5:1 (2.3:1 for the current study), a history of bathing in stagnant water in 66.7% (53.8% in the current study), a doughy lacrimal sac swelling in 100% (30.8% in the current study) and bloody discharge from the nose in 61.1% (none in the current study).…”