ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Emerging and re-emerging infectious disease in otorhinolaryngology (ENT) are an area of growing epidemiological and clinical interest. The aim of this section is to comprehensively report on the epidemiology of key infectious disease in otorhinolaryngology, reporting on their burden at the national and international level, expanding of the need of promoting and implementing preventive interventions, and the rationale of applying evidence-based, effective and cost- effective diagnostic, curative and preventive approaches. In particular, we focus on i) ENT viral infections (HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, Human Papilloma virus), retrieving the available evidence on their oncogenic potential; ii) typical and atypical mycobacteria infections; iii) non-specific granulomatous lymphadenopathy; iv) emerging paediatric ENT infectious diseases and the prevention of their complications; v) the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance in ENT and the strategies for its control in different clinical settings. We conclude by outlining knowledge gaps and action needed in ENT infectious diseases research and clinical practice and we make references to economic analysis in the field of ENT infectious diseases prevention and care.
Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases, Emerging , Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases , Algorithms , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/diagnosis , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology , Communicable Diseases, Emerging/therapy , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/diagnosis , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/therapy , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/therapy , Head and Neck Neoplasms/virology , Humans , Lymphadenitis/diagnosis , Lymphadenitis/therapy , Mycobacterium Infections/diagnosis , Mycobacterium Infections/therapy , Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases/diagnosis , Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases/epidemiology , Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases/therapy , Papillomavirus Infections/diagnosis , Papillomavirus Infections/therapyABSTRACT
A retrospective study of a large series of patients (5,100 cases of radiologically confirmed rhino-sinusitis) was carried out to assess the efficacy of traditional radiology in the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis and the specific role of more recent imaging techniques. Traditional radiography, often limited to the naso-occipital projection (lack of collaboration), allows a reliable examination only of maxillary sinus. "Typical" findings of chronic sinusitis have been identified as "polipoid" thickening of the mucous membrane and localised parietal opacity. Both maxillary sinuses are involved in approximately 91% of cases, with ethmoidal involvement in 53%. Thickened mucosal walls and retention cysts may be obscured by inflammatory exudate: the air space is reduced and the sinus appears cloudy or opaque (acute reinflammation). The overall frequency of chronic sinusitis is 11.1% (67% in the 8-14 age range, 29% in the 5-8 age range and 4% in the 2-5 age range). Complications are rare (4 cases). Whereas echotomography provides limited and inconstant findings, CT and MRI are indicated in case of isolated opacity of a maxillary sinus, persistent after treatment: the former allows a detailed study of the bone, the latter enables to obtain a better tissue characterization. MRI often allows the differential diagnosis between inflammatory diseases and malignant tumors.
