Otorhinolaryngological HIV - related problems: a private practice experience

Abstract

This is a retrospective review of six cases that presented with Otorhinolaryngotogical (ORL) problems associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at GENIKS Specialist Clinics, lbadan, Nigeria between January 2002 and June 2003.The patients all in the productive age group were either non responsive to conventional therapy for the presenting complaints or had features suggestive of immune depression prompting request for HIV screening, which was positive in all cases. Based on the findings, this paper proposes that all clinicians including otorhinolaryngologists especially should keep an eye for HIV infection hidden behind common ORL diseases and maintain a high level of suspicion for HIV infection in-their day-to-day practice.