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Sensorineural hearing loss complicating severe rickettsial diseases: report of two cases

Dimitris Tsiachris1, Melanie Deutsch, Dimitris Vassilopoulos

  • 12nd Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Hippocratio Hospital, Vasilissis Sofias 114 Avenue, 11527 Athens, Greece. tsiacmed@yahoo.com

The Journal of Infection
|November 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Transient hearing loss is a rare neurological symptom of severe rickettsial infections. This study documents two cases of temporary sensorineural hearing loss in patients with Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia conorii infections.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Systemic rickettsial diseases can rarely cause focal neurological manifestations, often attributed to immune-mediated processes.
  • Sub-acute neurological symptoms are uncommon in rickettsial infections.

Observation:

  • Two cases of severe rickettsial diseases (Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia conorii) are presented.
  • Both patients experienced transient sensorineural hearing loss during their convalescent phase.

Findings:

  • Diagnosis of rickettsial infection was confirmed by high IgM antibody titers.
  • Hearing loss resolved spontaneously in both cases without specific otological treatment.
  • Prompt response to doxycycline treatment was observed for the rickettsial infections.

Implications:

  • Transient sensorineural hearing loss may be an under-recognized neurological complication of severe rickettsial infections.
  • This finding highlights the importance of considering audiological assessment in patients with rickettsial diseases presenting with neurological symptoms.
  • The immune-mediated nature of such neurological events warrants further investigation.

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