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Meningitis and sensorineural hearing loss
Insights
Meningitis in children, especially Haemophilus influenza meningitis, significantly increases the risk of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Early audiological testing is crucial for these high-risk pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Meningitis is a significant cause of acquired sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children.
- Generalized meningitis poses a considerable risk for post-natal hearing impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children diagnosed with meningitis.
- To determine the audiological outcomes in pediatric patients following meningitis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study analyzed 54 children diagnosed with generalized meningitis.
- Audiometric testing was performed on a subset of these high-risk pediatric patients.
Main Results:
- 70% of the children studied had Haemophilus influenza meningitis.
- 40% of children tested audiometrically were found to have sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
Conclusions:
- There appears to be an increased prevalence of SNHL in children post-meningitis.
- Recommend audiological workups for all children with Haemophilus influenza, pneumococcal, or meningococcal meningitis, ideally before hospital discharge.
Abstract:
A 12 month retrospective study was conducted on 54 children discharged from the Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, with a diagnosis of generalized meningitis, a major cause of post-natal sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Of these high risk patients, 38 or 70% had Haemophilus influenza meningitis and fully 40% of those children tested audiometrically were determined to have SNHL. Because there would appear to be an increase in SNHL in the post meningeal population, all children with a diagnosis of Haemophilus influenza, pneumococcal, or meningococcal meningitis should have an audiological workup, preferably prior to discharge from the hospital.