Rhinoscleroma

Last Updated: 2023-07-07

Author(s): Anzengruber F., Navarini A.

ICD11: 1C4Y

  • Leprosy
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis
  • Cutaneous leishmaniasis
  • Syphilis
  • Malignant tumors
  • Granuloma gangraenescens nasi
  • South American blastomycosis

  • Kaposi and Hebra, 1870

Disease caused by Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, an immobile gram-negative rod.

Today endemic especially in young (20-35 yrs) patients in Asia, Africa and South America.

  • Pathogen: Klebsiella (pneumoniae) rhinoscleromatis
  • Transmission: human to human via droplet infection
  • One trigger for infection is likely to be poor hygiene. The braniae phagocytosed by the immune system cannot be killed, resulting in destruction of the infected tissue due to the granulomatous defence reaction

  • Rhinitis, foetid nasal secretion in otherwise dry mucous membrane
  • Followed by crusting with inflammatory hard infiltrates (nose, upper lip and throat) and granulations on the upper lip

  • Clinical
  • Dermatopathological confirmation
  • Detection of pathogens by means of bacterial culture
  • Serological determination of klebsial antibodies
  • Because the pathogen is contagious and pathogenic to mice, an animal test is described, but we do not consider this practical

Nose, oral mucosa and upper respiratory tract.

In the middle corium, inflammation with plasma cells, Mikulicz cells and Russell bodies.

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  5. Tapia A. Rhinoscleroma: a naso-oral dermatosis. Cutis 1987;40:101-3.