Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
Abstract
Background: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and type
of hearing disorders in HIV positive patients and any correlationship
with the CD4 counts/stage of HIV/AIDS in patients attending the
comprehensive care clinic (CCC). Methods: Case control study of 194 HIV
positive patients attending CCC recruited into the study after informed
consent. A thorough clinical examination and otoscopy done followed by
tuning fork tests, Pure Tone Audiometry and tympanometric tests. This
was compared with 124 HIV negative subjects matched for age and sex who
were recruited from the voluntary counseling and testing centre. The
world health organization staging of the HIV/AIDS disease and the CD4
positive lymphocyte cell count were carried out and correlated with any
hearing disorder. Results were analyzed using statistical package for
social sciences version 10.0. Results: Hearing loss (HL) was present in
33.5% of HIV positive compared to 8.1% in negative subjects. No gender
bias in HL but HL worsened with advancement of age. SNHL was the most
common and the higher frequencies were the most affected. Low CD4 cell
count and advanced HIV disease were associated with increased chance of
having a hearing loss. Conclusion: Hearing loss is more prevalent in
HIV positive individuals than negative normal subjects and tends to
worsen with the advancement of the HIV disease. This may negatively
impact on the overall care and standard of living of HIV positive
patients, hence otological care should be part of the comprehensive
care