Abstract
Background: Head and neck symptoms can be the first manifestation of disease in patients infected with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV). Diagnosis is often based on a high index of suspicion. The study is aimed at highlighting the common primary Head and neck manifestations of HIV/AIDS at two tertiary otolaryngology referral centres and comparing it with a previous study done in the same environment. Methodology: A one-year retrospective study of thirty-two patients presenting over a 12 month period between September 2002 and August 2003, with suspicious Head and neck symptoms and were serologically confirmed to be HIV positive at the Otolaryngologic clinics of the National Ear Care Center and 44 Nigerian army reference hospitals Kaduna. Results: There were 19 males and 13 females with the age range 21 to 40 years most affected (68:75%). 10 patients (31.3%) presented with otitis media, 9 patients (28.2%) with facial nerve paralysis, 6 (18.8%) patients with salivary gland enlargement (parotitis/sialadenitis), 4 (12.5%) with sinusitis, 3 (9.4%) with tonsilitis/pharingitis, 2 (6.3%) with cervical adenitis, 2 (6.3%) with pharyngeal tumour and 1 (3.1%) each with sensorineural hearing loss, neck abscess and cavernous sinus thrombosis. Other minor head and neck illnesses were also recorded. Conclusion: The head and neck region is a common site of presentation of HIV infection. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and prompt management.