Abstract
Streptomycin toxicity has been studied by many observers who reported disturbances arising from therapeutic use of the antibiotic. When streptomycin is administered in high dosage or over prolonged periods of time, toxic reactions involving the vestibular and sometimes also cochlear functions are regularly encountered. Hinshaw and Feldman (1945) 1 presented the first report. These authors observed one case of deafness and three cases with vestibular disturbances subsequent to large doses of streptomycin. They ascribed these symptoms to a selective toxic effect on the eighth cranial nerve. The following year Brown and Hinshaw 2 reported similar observations in 23 cases during treatment with streptomycin. Disturbance of equilibrium with dizziness and lightheadedness appeared. The imbalance varied from gentle swaying to falling. The response to caloric stimulation and turning tests indicated a bilateral progressive decrease of vestibular function. In five patients they observed impairment of hearing when doses of 3 gm. a
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