Vaccine-preventable pediatric postmeningitic sensorineural hearing loss in southern India.
OBJECTIVE
The study goal was to assess vaccine-preventable pediatric postmeningitic sensorineural hearing loss in southern India.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective pilot study from January through March 2001 in a tertiary pediatric hospital in southern India.


RESULTS
Sixty-five patients were studied. Thirty-five (54%) patients had positive cerebrospinal fluid cultures, with the most common organisms being Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. An additional 10 (15%) patients were diagnosed with tuberculous meningitis. Of 28 patients who could comply with audiometric evaluations, 8 (28%) had sensorineural hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
The etiologic organisms of bacterial meningitis in this study population are similar to those organisms in the developed world, with the minority exception of tuberculous meningitis. Further, a similar prevalence of postmeningitic sensorineural hearing loss occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
An effective vaccination program against S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae type b should reduce the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss due to bacterial meningitis in developing countries with similar bacterial profiles.
Cherukupally
Shilpa Reddy
SR
Department of Otolaryngology, Massachussetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Eavey
Roland
R
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines