title: Doxycycline treatment of otosyphilis with hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The recommended treatment of otosyphilis is intravenous penicillin therapy. The response rate varied between 23% and 31%. This treatment needs hospitalisation and is costly, inconvenient and time consuming. Oral doxycycline was tested for its efficacy in otosyphilis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed 19 patients diagnosed as having otosyphilis with hearing loss at the outpatient unit between 2004 and 2008 by oral doxycycline 400 mg/day for 21 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of those enrolled patients, 12 patients were male and the mean age is 69.4 years. The hearing was improved in nine patients (47.3%) and the audiogram of seven patients (36.8%) showed improvement. There was no serious side effect of doxycycline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that doxycycline may be an effective alternate regimen for otosyphilis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 123 Mitraparp Road, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Verajit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chotmongkol
authors.forename: Kittisak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawanyawisuth
authors.forename: Kwanchanok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yimtae
authors.forename: Thanyaporn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chantarojanasiri
authors.forename: Ratchanee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chotmongkol
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010031:Otitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline