Cervico-facial and ENT symptoms due to HIV infection in tropical area. About 253 Congolese cases
Ondzotto, G.; Ibara, J.R.; Mowondabeka, P.; Galiba, J.
Bulletin de la Societe de Pathologie Exotique 97(1): 59-63
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9085 PMID: 15104161 Document Number: 570569
From December 1995 to November 2001, a retrospective study was conducted in the Oto-Rhino-Laryngology service of Brazzaville University Hospital in Congo. A total of 253 patients (51% men and 49% women) aged 30-49 years (average age: 34+or-4.8 years) were selected from 1352 consultations. Although multiple sexual partners (59.7%) was the main risk factor in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, traditional practices (22.8%) were not negligible in Africa. HIV type 1 infection was found in 72.3% of cases. The affected parts were the neck (40.5%), ear (24.9%), pharynx (17.3%), rhinosinus (13.3%), oral cavity and vestibule (2.7%), and larynx (1.3%). The main affected parts were represented by parotidosis (20.1%), peripheral facial paralysis (15.4%), pharyngeal candidiasis (14.6%), sinusitis (14.2%), and ganglial tuberculosis (11.5%). Lymphoma (7), Kaposi's sarcoma (7) and epidermoid carcinoma (one) were identified in 15 cases. Cystic parotiditis (11%), noma (1.6%), African histoplasmosis (0.4%), and rhinoscleroma (0.4%) were diagnosed during the study period. The role of an oto-rhino-laryngologist is important in the early diagnosis of HIV infection as well as in the follow-up of patients.