Kawasaki disease and sensorineural hearing loss: an (un)expected complication.
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limiting, idiopathic form of vasculitis. The preventive effect of early therapy on coronary artery aneurysms, the hallmark of the disease, is well established. The spectrum of complication includes not only cardiac involvement but also central nervous system lesions. We report a 4-year-old boy with a clinical presentation suggestive of KD treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and acetylsalicylic acid. Clinical manifestations regressed within 24 hours and cardiac anomalies were not seen. Two weeks later, the parents noticed a sudden absence of response to sound stimuli. Investigations confirmed bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss for which oral steroid therapy was given. This resulted in an improvement only on the right side, with severe hearing loss persisting on the left.


CONCLUSIONS
Sensorineural hearing loss is an uncommonly reported complication of KD. Pediatricians should be aware of this potential complication to allow for early intervention.
Pediatrics Department, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001, Porto, Portugal. anocas.novo@gmail.com
Ana
A
Novo
Susana
S
Pinto
Ana Catarina
AC
Prior
Sílvia
S
Alvares
Teresa
T
Soares
Margarida
M
Guedes
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D013256:Steroids