[Sudden deafness and increased toxoplasmosis IgM titer].
BACKGROUND
Prenatal damage of the inner ear due to infection with toxoplasma gondii is documented. Nevertheless, there are only a few references about postnatal acquired toxoplasmosis as a cause of inner ear damage.


METHODS
We report about a nine-year-old boy who suffered from unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.


RESULTS
Examinations did not show any other sign of a possible cause of hearing loss except for a very high toxoplasmosis titer of 1:102400. Besides our usual therapy regime for acute hearing loss, we treated the patient with pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine. Antibody titer decreased but the sensorineural hearing loss did not change substantially. Fortunately the patient lost the tinnitus.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute Toxoplasmosis should be considered in the diagnostic process of sudden hearing loss, at least if there are appropriate clues in the medical history.
Schlottmann
A
A
Hals-Nasen-Ohrenklinik und Poliklinik Otto Körner, Medizinischen Fakultät, Universität Rostock.
Kleemann
D
D
Kranz
K
K
Schmal
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
Hörsturz und erhöhter IgM-Titer für Toxoplasmose.