Condition Lookup

Tuberculosis of the Nasal Cavity

Symptoms:
nasal obstruction; nasal discharge; crusting; ulceration in the nasal cavity; epistaxis (nosebleeds); pain or tenderness in the nasal area

Root Cause:
Caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, often secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis or disseminated disease.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis involves nasal biopsy with histopathological examination, acid-fast bacilli staining, and culture. PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and chest X-ray may aid diagnosis.

Treatment:
Treatment involves a standard multi-drug regimen for tuberculosis (e.g., isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide) for 6-9 months or longer, depending on the severity.

Medications:
Anti-tuberculosis drugs, including isoniazid (antibiotic), rifampin (antibiotic), ethambutol (antimycobacterial agent), and pyrazinamide (antimycobacterial agent). These medications work to eliminate the infection by targeting the bacteria.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Extremely rare; nasal tuberculosis accounts for less than 1% of all cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Immunocompromised state (e.g., HIV/AIDS), close contact with an active TB case, poor socioeconomic conditions, malnutrition, and untreated pulmonary tuberculosis.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable with early diagnosis and proper treatment. Delayed treatment may lead to complications or deformity of nasal structures.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Nasal septal perforation, secondary bacterial infections, spread to adjacent structures, and systemic dissemination.

Syphilis of the Nasal Cavity

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Nasal Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Nasal Infections

Symptoms:
nasal obstruction; crusting; foul-smelling nasal discharge; nasal pain; ulceration in the nasal cavity; facial swelling or deformity in advanced cases

Root Cause:
Caused by infection with Treponema pallidum, typically secondary to systemic syphilis in its tertiary stage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed via serologic testing (e.g., VDRL, RPR, or FTA-ABS), biopsy with silver staining to identify spirochetes, and clinical correlation with syphilis history.

Treatment:
Treatment involves intramuscular penicillin G benzathine, typically in a 3-dose weekly schedule for late-stage syphilis. Alternative antibiotics are used in penicillin-allergic individuals.

Medications:
Penicillin G benzathine (antibiotic) is the drug of choice. Alternative antibiotics include doxycycline (antibiotic, tetracycline class) or ceftriaxone (antibiotic, cephalosporin class) in penicillin-allergic cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare in modern times due to early detection and treatment of syphilis, though cases may be seen in areas with limited healthcare access.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Untreated primary or secondary syphilis, immunosuppression, high-risk sexual behavior, and lack of access to healthcare.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely antibiotic treatment; untreated cases can lead to severe nasal destruction or systemic complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Saddle-nose deformity, destruction of nasal cartilage, secondary infections, and systemic spread to vital organs.

Leishmaniasis Involving the Nose

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Nasal Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Nasal Infections

Symptoms:
nasal obstruction; epistaxis (nosebleeds); nasal discharge; crusting; ulceration in the nasal cavity; nasal deformity or perforation in advanced cases

Root Cause:
Caused by Leishmania species, transmitted via sandfly bites. Nasal involvement is common in mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed via microscopic examination of tissue biopsies, culture for Leishmania species, PCR, and serological tests like rK39 for visceral involvement.

Treatment:
Treated with antimonial compounds, liposomal amphotericin B, or miltefosine. Severe cases may require reconstructive surgery for nasal deformities.

Medications:
Sodium stibogluconate or meglumine antimoniate (antimonial drugs), liposomal amphotericin B (antifungal), and miltefosine (antiprotozoal drug).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in South America, the Middle East, and parts of Africa and Asia.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Living in or traveling to endemic areas, exposure to sandflies, and a weakened immune system.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early diagnosis and treatment; delayed treatment may result in nasal destruction and disfigurement.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Nasal septal perforation, saddle-nose deformity, secondary infections, and systemic spread in immunocompromised patients.

Nasal Diphtheria

Specialty: Nose and Throat

Category: Nasal Conditions

Sub-category: Rare Nasal Infections

Symptoms:
low-grade fever; nasal obstruction; unilateral or bilateral nasal discharge (often blood-tinged); foul smell; grayish pseudomembrane in the nasal cavity

Root Cause:
Caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a toxin-producing bacterium that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed by culture of nasal swabs, detection of C. diphtheriae, and confirmation of toxin production via Elek test or PCR.

Treatment:
Immediate administration of diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics, usually erythromycin or penicillin, to eradicate the infection. Isolation of the patient is critical to prevent transmission.

Medications:
Diphtheria antitoxin (neutralizes toxin), erythromycin (antibiotic, macrolide class), and penicillin G (antibiotic, beta-lactam class).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare in areas with widespread vaccination but may occur in regions with low immunization rates or poor healthcare infrastructure.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of diphtheria vaccination, travel to endemic areas, close contact with infected individuals, and poor hygiene.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with early treatment, though complications may arise if toxin-mediated effects are severe.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Nasal septal perforation, systemic effects of the toxin (e.g., myocarditis, neuropathy), and airway obstruction in severe cases.