Related Experiment Videos
ENT presentations in children with HIV infection
A Singh1, C Georgalas, N Patel
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, UK. singh.stonehall@ntlworld.com
Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences
|May 21, 2003
Summary
Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) illnesses are common in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While the ENT symptom profile remains similar, the age of onset for these conditions has increased in HIV-infected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
- Immunology
Background:
- Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions are frequently observed in pediatric patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
- Understanding the epidemiology of ENT diseases in this population is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the prevalence, age of onset, and types of ENT diseases in children with HIV.
- To analyze demographic factors including sex distribution, maternal country of origin, and HIV transmission mode.
- To compare current findings with previous studies on ENT manifestations in pediatric HIV.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of case files for 107 HIV-seropositive children treated at a pediatric HIV unit.
- Data collected included ENT illness prevalence, age at onset, specific ENT diagnoses, sex, maternal origin, and HIV transmission route.
Main Results:
- Fifty percent of HIV-infected children experienced ENT illnesses.
- The most common ENT diseases were cervical lymphadenopathy (70%), otitis media (46%), oral candidiasis (35%), and adenotonsillar disease (31%).
- Vertical HIV transmission accounted for 90% of cases, with 70% of mothers originating from Africa.
Conclusions:
- The proportion of HIV-infected children with ENT problems may have decreased compared to prior research.
- While the ENT symptom profile remains consistent, the age at which these symptoms manifest has increased.
- These findings highlight the evolving clinical presentation of ENT diseases in pediatric HIV.