Inner ear infections as cause of perinatal deafness

Abstract

Objective: To assess the role of infective agents as cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children. Setting: Tertiary care center actively involved in management of hearing impairment through cochlear implant program and other rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of 213 patients who underwent cochlear implantation at our center from 2007 to 2011 was carried out. Out of these, 185 were children. We have done the data analysis with regard to etiology of hearing loss in these 185 children. An etiology for SNHL could be established in 100 out of these 185 cases. Out of these 100 cases, we have further segregated cases where an infectious etiology was implicated. Results: Out of 185 prelingual cochlear implantees, etiology could be determined in 100 cases. Etiology was of infective origin in 26 of these 100 cases. Infective agents implicated in congenital acquired hearing loss were Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes (TORCH) infections ( n = 9) including Rubella ( n = 7) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) ( n = 2). Meningitis ( n = 11) and other infections ( n = 6) were responsible for secondary acquired hearing loss. Conclusions: Results showed that among the identified causes, infective agents were responsible in one-fourth cases of profound SNHL. Building awareness about such existence and their major role in causing SNHL among the otolaryngologists, pediatricians, obstetricians, physicians, audiologists and public is considered essential so that such preventable and controllable maladies are reduced by combined efforts from all these stakeholders.