Otorhinolaryngological manifestations among HIV Infected patients attending hiv clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background AIDS is a fatal illness which breaks down the body’s immunity leaving the patient vulnerable to threatening opportunistic infections, neurological disorders or unusual malignancies. Otorhinolaryngological manifestations in association with HIV infection are common in clinical practice, they are non specific therefore immunodeficiency may not be suspected. Broad objective To define the prevalence of all otorhinolaryngological manifestations of HIV/AIDS among HIV infected patients attending at the HIV clinic of MNH. Study design Cross sectional descriptive hospital based study. Setting HIV clinic at MNH. Participants A sample of 384 HIV infected patients attending HIV clinic at MNH. All were on HAART. Results A total of 384 patients were involved in the study. All of them were on HAART. There were 129(33.6%) males and 255(66.4%) females, a ratio of about 1:2. ORL manifestations were reported in 131(34.1%) of the participants. The commonly reported manifestations included CSOM 29(22.1%), benign lymphoepithelial cyst of the parotid gland 22(16.8%) tonsillitis 20(15.3%), rhinosinusitis 14(10.7%), Kaposis sarcoma 10(7.6%) and oral cavity/oropharyngeal candidiasis 8(6.1%). Conclusion ORL manifestations were reported in about a third of the studied participants. The leading complaints were CSOM, benign lymphoepithelial cyst of the parotid gland, tonsillitis, rhinosinusitis, Kaposis sarcoma and oral/ oropharyngeal candidiasis. An otorhinolaryngologist should be aware of the otorhinolaryngological manifestations of HIV infection so that early vii diagnosis and timely intervention by antiretroviral therapy can be instituted to improve survival rates.