| Summary: | Aim: To asses the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among E.N.T. patients at U.N.T.H. Enugu.
Patients and Methods: Records of 224 patients who attended the E.N.T. Clinic for surgery between May 1995 and April 1998 were retrospectively evaluated. The prevalence, spectrum, and characteristics of head and neck complications of the AIDS patients were evaluated.
Results: Out of 224 patients, 12 (5.4%) were HIV seropositive, with a male/female ratio of 1:0.7. They were aged between the second and fifth decade with highest incidence in the age group 21 – 30 years. Transmission was by heterosexual relationships. Patients were neither drug abusers nor homosexuals and there were equal numbers of single and married patients. Businessmen were the highest occupational group (50%), followed by students, civil servant and hoteliers at 16.6% each. Patients presented with varied multiple symptomatology; productive cough 5 (50%), neoplasm 5(42%), catarrh 4 (33.3%), fever 3 (25%), sore – throat 3 (25%), cervical lymphadenopathy 3 (25%), dysphonia 3 (25%).
Conclusion: Although the above symptoms are common in everyday otolaryngology practice, there should be awareness that AIDS could present in a similar way.
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