Hearing loss in children with HIV/AIDS
Ana Karina Lima Buriti1, Simone Helena Dos Santos Oliveira1, Lilian Ferreira Muniz2
1Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João PessoaPB, Brazil, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB - João Pessoa (PB), Brazil.
Insights
Hearing loss is common in children with HIV, with most cases linked to antiretroviral therapy and otitis. Early auditory monitoring and intervention are crucial for development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Audiology
Background:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection can impact various organ systems, including the auditory system.
- Children with HIV are at risk for hearing impairments, potentially affecting their development and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of hearing loss in children living with HIV.
- To explore the association between hearing loss and factors such as viral load, opportunistic infections, and antiretroviral treatment (ART).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 23 HIV-positive children in Brazil.
- Data collection included parental questionnaires on clinical and hearing health, followed by audiological assessments.
- Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of hearing loss was observed, affecting 84.8% of ears examined.
- Otitis was the most frequent opportunistic disease (61.1%).
- Significant associations were found between hearing alterations, ART use, and otitis.
Conclusions:
- Hearing impairments are prevalent in children with HIV/AIDS.
- Early auditory monitoring and intervention are essential for language development, learning, and social inclusion.
- The findings underscore the importance of integrating audiological care into the management of pediatric HIV.
Purpose:
To investigate the occurrence of hearing loss in children with HIV and its association with viral load, opportunistic diseases, and antiretroviral treatment.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was carried out with 23 HIV-positive children under care at two specialized centers in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Their parents or legal guardians responded to a questionnaire, containing data on the clinical situation and the hearing health of the children, who were then submitted to audiological assessment. We complied with the guidelines for human research contained in the CNE (National Education Council) Resolution number 196/1996. The findings were analyzed through descriptive statistics.
Results:
We observed that lamivudine (3TC) was the antiretroviral drug most used in 17 (94.4%) patients, followed by Kaletra (KAL), administered in 14 (77.8%) patients, d4T in 11 (61.1%) patients, and zidovudine (AZT) in 7 (38.9%) participants. Otitis was the most frequent opportunistic disease, with 11 (61.1%) cases. In the audiometric examination, we observed 39 (84.8%) ears with hearing loss and 7 (15.2%) normal ears. After the immitance testing, we found five (10.9%) normal ears, characterized by type A tympanometric curves. The other 41 (89.1%) ears were revealed as altered, with predominance of type B curves in 67.4% of the cases.
Conclusion:
There were hearing alterations in children with HIV/AIDS analyzed in this study. Discreet hearing losses were the most occurring. We verified statistically significant associations with the use of antiretroviral therapy and otitis. Therefore, we point out the importance of auditory monitoring and intervention as soon as possible, thus favoring adequate development in language and decreasing possible difficulties in learning and social inclusion.
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