[Ataxia and deafness secondary to meningitis in children: the role of labyrinth diseases].
A study is made of post meningitic ataxia from 9 purulent meningitis observations in children. This ataxia is accompanied by a bilateral vestibular destruction syndrome in 6 of the 7 patients examined. The labyrinthic origin of the ataxia accounts for its pure static aspect, its regressive evolution and the frequency of associated deafness. The study of sightless walking on unstable ground (mattress) gives a clinical sight of the vestibular impairment long after the acute phase. In the same way, the study of post-meningitis deafness shows that, most of the time, it is accompanied by an impairment or the suppression of the vestibular reactions. The frequency of the inner ear impairment, after purulent meningitis is certainly underestimated for two reasons: on the one hand, the ataxia remains unknown most of the time because of the excellent vestibular compensation; on the other hand, the deafness can be slight or localized only on one side. Consequently it seems important to undertake in each purulent meningitis convalescent, a clinical examination of standing and walking positions, together with an examination of the hearing and vestibular functions, as soon as age allows it. Lastly, with regard to a pathogenic theory of purulent meningitis, the role of a possible viral component of the infection in the cochleo-vestibular impairment is called into question.
D001259:Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000503:physiopathology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications*; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests
Ataxies et surdites secondaires aux meningites purulentes de l'enfant role de l'atteinte labyrinthique