[Vestibular tests in infants with TORCH and after CNS infections]

Thorough evaluation of hearing and balance in infants with congenital and perinatal TORCH (ang. Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes) infections and after infections of the central nervous system (CNS) is essential due to serious danger of inner ear damage. Caloric stimulation is one of the most reliable diagnostic methods of vestibular testing in infants. Recording of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) makes evaluation of the otolith organ and its pathways possible. Potentials resulting from sacculo-collic reflexes are recorded on the surface of the neck muscles. 76 infants aged 3 months, 40 healthy controls and 36 with risk factors of the inner ear damage: 25 with CMV infections, 7 after CNS system infections, 3 after congenital rubella and 1 with congenital Toxoplasmosis were included in the study. Values of VEMP measures did not differ between the groups. Complete lack of response to the stimuli was observed in 6 examined ears. Correlation was found between results of VEMPs, hearing threshold and caloric test. The vestibular organ was frequently impaired in the discussed group of infants. The obtained results correlate with one another due to simultaneous impact of the risk factors on the maculae of the ampullar and otolith systems causing damage to both of them.