title: Chronic bilateral hearing loss in an immunocompetent patient. An atypical course of tuberculous meningitis.
abstract: Congenital, infectious, toxic, and demyelinating disorders are common etiological causes of deafness. Tuberculous meningitis, as one of the infectious causes, should be considered in the differential diagnosis since tuberculosis represents an endemic public health problem in developing countries. Multiple cranial nerve palsies can be expected due to basal meningitis; however, presentation with bilateral hearing loss is quite rare. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent mortality and residual neurologic deficits. The focus of this discussion is a 42-year-old female presenting with bilateral hearing loss and nonspecific complaints who was finally diagnosed with chronic tuberculous meningitis. We also demonstrate the characteristic radiological and histopathological findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara 06560, Turkey. Tel. +90 (312) 2025306. Fax. +90 (312) 4182175. E-mail: akyol1984@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Asli G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: Bijen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nazliel
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents