Parasitic sinusitis and otitis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: report of five cases and review.
We describe five cases of parasitic sinusitis and otitis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and review 14 reported cases. The pathogens identified in our group of patients included agents such as Microsporidium, Cryptosporidium, and Acanthamoeba species. The clinical features common to these patients included a long history of HIV seropositivity associated with advanced immunosuppression and multiple opportunistic infections as well as long-standing local symptoms refractory to multiple courses of antibacterial agents. Symptoms often included fever and chills in addition to local tenderness and discharge. Invasive diagnostic procedures were necessary to obtain the final diagnosis and to initiate appropriate therapy. Although most patients responded at least partially to specific therapy, relapses and recurrences were frequent in patients who did not receive long-term suppressive therapy. The general outcome for HIV-infected patients with parasitic sinusitis and otitis was poor; however, deaths were generally associated with other complications of the underlying HIV infection.
Dunand
V A
VA
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
Hammer
S M
SM
Rossi
R
R
Poulin
M
M
Albrecht
M A
MA
Doweiko
J P
JP
DeGirolami
P C
PC
Coakley
E
E
Piessens
E
E
Wanke
C A
CA
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000469:parasitology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016816:Microsporida / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D009666:Nose / Q000469:parasitology; D010031:Otitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*
D000871:Anthelmintics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D015766:Albendazole