[Cervico-facial and ENT symptoms due to HIV infection in tropical area. About 253 Congolese cases].

In human immunodeficiency virus infection as well as in related syndromes, cervico-facial and otorhino-laryngologic manifestations are current. A retrospective study in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology service of Brazzaville University Hospital from December 1995 to November 2001 has been reported. 253 patients were selected from a total of 1352 consultations. The study population is young (average age: 34 +/- 4.8 years), and most of the patients are 30 to 49 years old (75.9%). Men represent 51% and women 49%. Although sexual multipartnership (59.7%) is the main risk factor, traditional practices (22.8%) are not neglictible in Africa. Among all cases, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is found in 72.3% of cases. The affections are located in the neck (40.5%), ear (24.9%), pharynx (17.3%), rhinosinus (13.3%), oral cavity and vestibule (2.7%) and larynx (1.3%). These main affections are represented by: parotidosis (20.1%), peripheric facial paralysis (15.4%), pharyngeal candidiasis (14.6%), sinusitis (14.2%) and ganglial tuberculosis (11.5%). Lymphoma (7 cases), kaposi's sarcoma (7 cases) and epidermoid carcinoma (1 case) are the malignant affections identified in 15 cases (6%). The diagnosis of some affections like cystic parotiditis (11%), noma (1.6%), African histoplasmosis (0.4%) and rhinoscleroma (0.4%) constitutes this study particularity The Oto-rhino-laryngologist's role is important in early diagnosis of HIV infection as well as in the followed-up of patients.