title: Brainstem auditory evoked potentials following meningitis in children.
abstract: The report concerns findings for brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) recorded in 116 children, aged between a few days and 7 years, having suffered from bacterial meningitis. 26% of cases occurred between birth and 6 months, 55% between 6 months and 2 years, and 19% after 2 years of age. Hemophilus was the most common bacteria (49%), followed by Pneumococcus (22%) and Meningococcus (15%). Neurological complications were found in 30% of the meningitis cases and accounted for 85% of all complications found. 29% of BAEPs were abnormal, of which 47% revealed transmission, 32% endocochlear and 21% retrocochlear impairment. Transmission impairment mainly occurred before the age of 2 years (88%), most frequently in meningococcus meningitis cases (44%), and independently of neurological complications. Retrocochlear impairment was found in association with neurological complications in 71% of cases. Endocochlear BAEP damage was found in 9.5% of cases, half of which were bilateral and total, representing cophosis: it was found at all ages, and without any particular associated neurological complication. Hemophilus was the commonest bacterial agent in endocochlear cases overall, with Pneumococcus underlying 50% of cophosis cases. The study shows BAEP recording in association with a clinical ear examination is useful following childhood bacterial meningitis, screening for definitive endocochlear and deafness, distinguishing total from partial hearing-loss and indicating suitable treatment.
authors.affiliation: Hospices Civils de Lyon, Service d'Exploration Neurosensorielle, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duclaux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sevin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferber
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Drai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubreuil
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015834:Cochlear Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology