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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Early-onset sensorineural hearing loss in Lassa fever
T S Ibekwe1, P O Okokhere, D Asogun
1Lassa Fever Research and Diagnostic Centre, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria. ibekwets@yahoo.com
Summary
Lassa fever (LF) can cause early-onset sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in 13.5% of patients, indicating a severe disease process. This early SNHL in acute Lassa fever cases is linked to a higher fatality rate.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
- Virology
Background:
- Lassa fever (LF) is a significant viral hemorrhagic disease with a high annual incidence and fatality rate.
- Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a known complication of LF, typically occurring in the convalescent stage.
- Recent reports suggest SNHL can manifest during the acute phase of LF, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and characteristics of SNHL during the acute phase of Lassa fever.
- To investigate potential mechanisms underlying acute SNHL in LF patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective case-control study was conducted with confirmed LF patients and controls with other acute febrile illnesses.
- LF diagnosis involved clinical assessment, IgM antibody detection, and Lassa virus-specific RT-PCR.
- SNHL diagnosis utilized clinical evaluation, pure tone audiometry (PTA), and speech discrimination tests.
Main Results:
- Five out of 37 (13.5%) confirmed LF cases developed early-onset SNHL, compared to none in the control group (p=0.03).
- Audiograms revealed significant hearing loss across all frequencies (PTA 65-85 dB) with impaired speech discrimination (20-40%).
- The case fatality rate for early SNHL cases was 60.0%, compared to 27.0% overall (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
- The incidence of early-onset SNHL in acute Lassa fever is approximately 13.5%.
- Early SNHL may signify a more severe Lassa fever disease process and is associated with increased mortality.
- Direct viral invasion is a potential causative mechanism for SNHL in acute LF, alongside immunological reactions.
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