Hearing loss as a sequela of meningitis.
A retrospective study of 547 cases of meningitis was performed. Of these, 236 were bacterial, 304 were viral, and 7 were fungal in etiology. Of 110 survivors of bacterial meningitis over the age of 2 1/2 years, 23 or 21% suffered partial or complete sensorineural hearing loss. The site of auditory injury in cases of partial loss was the cochlea by audiologic criteria. A positive correlation with hearing loss was found for the species of organism, delay before treatment, low CSF sugar, and CSF pleocytosis. Of 7 patients with fungal meningitis, 3 suffered hearing loss with signs of a retrocochlear site. Of 304 cases of aseptic meningitis, none developed a hearing loss. The pathophysiology of hearing loss as a sequela of meningitis and the possible explanations for absence of hearing loss in viral meningitis are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005947:Glucose