[Hearing defects after purulent meningitis (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric audiology
• Infectious disease sequelae

Context:

• Purulent meningitis is a serious childhood infection.
• Long-term effects of meningitis on hearing require further investigation.

Purpose:

• To assess audiological outcomes in children post-purulent meningitis.
• To determine the cause of hearing impairment following meningitis.

Summary:

• Eighty children (4-20 years) with a history of purulent meningitis underwent audiological evaluation.
• 2.5% were deaf, 5% had unilateral deafness, and 4 children had hearing impairment due to eighth cranial nerve damage.
• No correlation was found between antibiotic dosage (penicillin, ampicillin, gentamycin) and hearing defect severity.

Impact:

• Hearing impairment following purulent meningitis is likely an inflammatory sequela.
• Findings suggest a need for routine audiological screening in children with meningitis history.