Rhinoscleroma is a rare condition of the nose and airways that is characterized by chronic inflammation and the gradual development of airway obstructions. People develop this condition as a result of bacterial infections, and it is more common in the developing world. A lack of access to hygiene paired with late diagnosis in developing regions of the world can make rhinoscleroma a significant threat, although it is readily treatable if a doctor can identify it.
Patients who have this condition inhale Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis bacteria from an infected environment or the secretions of another person. The bacteria start to colonize the nose and airways, leading to symptoms such as a runny nose, redness and itching. Over time, lumpy masses can start to grow, and these begin to harden and scar. The scarring can occlude the airways and might make it difficult for the patient to breathe. The patient might wheeze, struggle for air and experience oxygen deprivation.
Women appear to be more at risk of rhinoscleroma than men, and the condition strikes people of all races equally. If a doctor suspects the presence of an infection, antibiotics can be provided. The medication will kill the bacteria and prevent further inflammation. The patient might need some time to recover before all of the symptoms dissipate, but after the infection is mastered, the condition should stop progressing.
Prevention of this upper respiratory tract infection requires hygienic conditions as well as access to health services so that people who have early rhinoscleroma can be identified and quickly treated. Treating the disease limits the chance for spread by shrinking the number of infectious individuals in the population. If a patient does not receive treatment for rhinoscleroma, surgery and other more invasive techniques might be necessary to manage the disease later. These can be costly and uncomfortable in comparison with early antibiotic treatment.
Rhinoscleroma is rare in the developed world, so people who have the early warning signs might not be identified as patients. A doctor could determine that symptoms such as a runny nose are the signs of an upper respiratory condition but might not provide antibiotics on the logic that the patient probably will recover on his or her own. For this reason, it is important for patients to make their doctors aware of their travel history, because this could alert the doctors to risks that might not have been otherwise considered. Travel in the developing world can expose people to a number of infections that are highly unusual at home and normally wouldn't be brought up in a differential diagnosis.