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Travel to developing countries is associated with possibility to acquire different, also parasitic, diseases which have become a diagnostic and therapeutic problem. The ENT specialist is one of the medical officers who may make initial contact with a patient with a suspected parasitic disease. One of them is leishmaniosis: a parasitic disease classified as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), which occurs in the tropics, subtropics and southern Europe. While asymptomatic invasion is observed in some cases, three forms of symptomatic leishmaniosis can be distinguished: cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL), visceral leishmaniosis (VL), and mucosal leishmaniosis (ML). Signs and symptoms of these forms, as well as the differential diagnosis, diagnostic procedures and treatment are presented in the paper.

Introduction: Patients who underwent laryngectomy due to larynx cancer have a possibility to regain ability to speak with the use of silicone voice prosthesis. However, the lifetime of the device is limited, and last for approximately 3-6 months, mainly due to bacterial and fungal biofilm formation, that subsequently causes deterioration of the prosthesis and malfunction of the valve mechanisms. Moreover, the biofilm can be reservoir for chronic and systemic infections., Aim: The aim of the following study was to investigate Candida biofilm formation on silicone voice prosthesis., Material and Methods: Experiments were performed using C. albicans and C. krusei fungal strains with Provox 2 and Provox Acti Valve voice prosthesis. Fungal biofilms were examined under various magnifications using SEM technique., Results: Scanning electron microscopy revealed that Candida biofilms formed on voice prosthesis had highly heterogeneous structure and were composed of blastospores, pseudohyphae, hyphae and ,,germ tubes" encased in an extracellular material. Noticeable differences in biofilms structure depended on Candida species and type of voice prosthesis., Conclusions: Presented data throws light on problems concerned fungal colonization on indwelled medical devices.

Fungi, in comparison with other pathogenic factors, have high pathogenicity. The number of fungal species which are able to infect people is over 500. The upper respiratory tract and ear have permanent contact with external environment which makes their ontocenoses open to continuous exchange of microorganisms of which they consist. In etiology of inflammatory processes 21 species which belonging to 3 genera (Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota) of fungi play important role. Administration of antifungal drugs can be: prophylactic, empiric preemptive and therapeutic. Physicians may prescribe antibiotics (mainly pollens: amphotericin B, natamycin and nystatin) and chemiotherapeutics (mainly azoles and fluorpirymidins, pigments, chlorhexidine and chlorquinaldol). In ENT practice topical and systemic drugs can be administrated. Topical lozenges include amphotericin B, clotrimazole, chlorhexidine or chlorquinaldol and oral gels: nystatin and miconazole. Some of drugs are in the form of suspension/solution, which can be used for inhalation, into the sinus, for swabbing or for lavage: amphotericin B, natamycin, nystatin, clotrimazol, flucytosine, miconazole, fluconazole, vorykonazole, caspofungin. It should be underlined that only a few of dugs can be absorbed from the digestive tract: flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, vorykonazole.

Every disease and especially neoplasmatic disease is a source of deep mental experiences. The aim of this study was the establishment of some psychological behavioural parameters in 55 patients who underwent radical neck dissection and in 32 patients operated for other, non-neoplasmatic laryngologic diseases. In order to evaluate psychological state of the patients the following of States and Personality Traits (TISCO), 2. Feeling of Safety Question Sheet (KPB), 3. Profile of Mood States (POMS), 4. Scale of Hopelessness (HS-8). It was stated, that patients after radical neck dissection have deviations concerning indexes of cognitive and emotional behaviour and that there are differences between patients operated as the reason of neoplastic processes and other patients. These differences appear also among persons examined in the period shorter than 1 year from their surgery as opposed to patients operated earlier than 1 year before examinations. The fact of laryngectomy did not appear to have significant influence upon most of the evaluated indexes of cognitive and emotional behaviours.

Based on 15 pictures the technique of radical neck dissection is presented with particular attention to the topography of the neck. Steps by steps the possibility of complications is considered. During the operation the mandible branches of the facial nerve, vagus nerve, hypoglossal nerve, phrenic nerve, accessory nerve, shoulder plexus, cervical plexus, sympathetic trunk can be injured as well as the jugular vein, carotid artery, occipital artery, thoracic duct. The critical moments for generation of these complications are indicated.

Neoplastic disease is the reason for limitation in life activity and functioning. The aim of study was assessment of adaptation to life after radical neck dissection. 87 subjects were followed up: 55 patients (group A) after radical neck dissection and 32 operated on for non-neoplastic ORL diseases. Patients from group A almost in all estimated indices showed statistical significant differences in comparison with group B. Only some differences were noted between patients examined in the period shorter and longer than one year after operation. There were no differences between patients after total laryngectomy and these who were cured in other procedures.

There isn't data concerning changes which occur to vestibular system as a result of chronic addiction. The aim of this study was to determine if the changes are dependent on the time of addiction or the time of abstinence. 113 persons, who were treated in Monar houses were divided into 3 subgroups (U 1-3) according to the time of addiction and into 4 subgroups (A 1-4) according to the time of abstinence. Symptoms, results of otoneurological examinations and answers from vestibular organs after provocation and after kinetic and caloric stimulations were taken under consideration. It was proved that there exists the relevant correlation between the whole number of symptoms and the dependence lasting over a year and it was also noticed that the greatest number of important symptoms occurs during the first two months of abstinence.

Opioids, barbiturates and volatile organic substances are the most common drugs used in Poland by addicts. In the literature there are no data concerning efficiency of vestibular organs of addicted persons examined during abstinence period. 74 drug addicts and 50 healthy persons were subjected to ENG examinations (spontaneous nystagmus, positional ny gaze ny, eye-tracking test, optokinetic test, rotatory test and caloric test were evaluated). ENG showed abnormal records in all tests performed in the addicted persons. This study has revealed that addicts have insufficiency of vestibular organs, which is probably a result of central lesions.