Sudden sensorineural hearing loss following intramuscular administration of penicillin.
We report a case of sudden hearing loss in a patient with acute exudative tonsillitis, occurring 15 minutes after the intramuscular administration of penicillin. Audiological evaluation documented a profound sensorineural hearing loss of the cochlear type. The mechanism of the hearing loss was probably an immediate hypersensitivity (type I) allergic drug reaction. Penicillin is used frequently for the treatment of several infections. Allergic reactions to penicillin are well known and include urticaria, maculopapular exanthems, angio-oedema, bronchospasm and anaphylaxis, but sudden hearing loss has never been recorded.
Department of Otolaryngology, Egas Moniz University Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal. np46ab@mail.telepac.pt
Pedro Alberto
PA
Escada
Clara
C
Capucho
José Francisco
JF
Madeira da Silva
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000188:drug therapy
D010406:Penicillins; D010402:Penicillin G Procaine; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine