Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) presenting as a nasal septal perforation

Patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and those with AIDS may present with many head and neck manifestations. We report a case of an undiagnosed HIV positive male who presented with symptoms due to a nasal septal perforation, and rapidly developed AIDS. The histopathology of the perforation margins revealed active chronic inflammation with no evidence of neoplasia or granuloma. No viral or fungal infection was demonstrable on immunological testing and fungal stain. This is the first reported case of a patient developing AIDS presenting with a nasal septal perforation.