LARYNGEAL LEISHMANIASIS AS INITIAL OPPORTUNISTIC DISEASE IN HIV-INFECTION

A case of laryngeal leishmaniasis, with symptoms of hoarseness and odi nophagia which had developed over the past year, is presented. Clinica l features and histological findings are discussed. Visceral leishmani asis is increasingly associated with HIV infection and some authors ha ve suggested the possibility of including it as a diagnostic criterium for AIDS in HIV-positive patients. When any case of leishmaniasis pre sents atypical clinical features, localization or treatment response i n endemic areas, HIV infection should be ruled out.