Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-wxhwt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T10:25:04.104Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Bilateral sudden deafness and acute acquired toxoplasmosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Morten Katholm*
Affiliation:
Departments of Audiology and Otorhinolaryngology, Gentofte University Hospital.
Niels Jon Johnsen
Affiliation:
Departments of Audiology and Otorhinolaryngology, Gentofte University Hospital.
Christian Siim
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Glostrup University Hospital.
Lars Willumsen
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
*
Morten Katholm, M. D. Nordre Strandvej 50, DK-3000 Helsingør, Denmark.

Abstract

An 18-year-old woman, while suffering from acute acquired toxoplasmosis, experienced sudden deafness and a total loss of vestibular function first in the right ear and three months later also in the left. Following treatment with sulphadiazine and pyrimethamine, hearing was retrieved to such a degree that the patient was enabled to communicate by means of a body-worn hearing aid and lip-reading. Taking the differential diagnostic possibilities into account, we believe that toxoplasmosis was the cause of the severe hearing loss. Since effective treatment seems to be available, we recommend that patients with acute bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of unknown origin are examined for acute toxoplasmosis with a view to instituting chemotherapy.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aspock, H. (1985) Prenatal and perinatal infections—Toxoplasmosis. Report on a WHO meeting. Graz, 1982. European Report Studies, 93: 4349.Google Scholar
Feldmann, H. (1981) Sudden hearing loss; A clinical survey. Advances in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 27: 4069.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodhill, V. (1981) Leaking labyrinth lesions, deafness, tinnitus and dizziness. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 90: 99106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grimaud, R., Wayoff, M., Perrin, C. (1961) La surdite dans la toxoplasmose. Journal Francois d'Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie, 10: 381387.Google Scholar
Krick, J. A., Remington, J. S. (1978) Toxoplasmosis of the adult—an overview. New England Journal of Medicine, 298: 550553.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McCabe, B. F. (1979) Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology, 88: 585589.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paparella, M. M., Mancini, F., Liston, S. S. L. (1984) Otosclerosis and Menière's syndrome: Diagnosis and treatment. Laryngoscope, 94: 14141417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Partsch, C. J., Rieder, R. H. (1962) Zur Frage der Hörschädigung nach konnataler und erworbener monosymptomatisch behandelter Toxoplasmose. Hals, Nasen und Ohrenheilkunde, 10: 306310.Google Scholar
Rost, G. (1963) Zur Frage der Ertaubung bei Toxoplasmose. Zeitschrift Für die Gesammte Hygiene und ihre Grenzegebiete, 9: 538540.Google Scholar
Ruskin, J., Remington, J. S. (1976) Toxoplasmosis in the compromised host. Annals of Internal Medicine, 84: 193199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schuknecht, H. F., Donovan, E. D. (1986) The pathology of idio- pathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, 243: 115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shambaugh, G. E. Jr (1978) Sensorineural deafness due to cochlear otospongiosis: Pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and therapy. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 11:135154.Google Scholar
Siim, J. C. (1961) Toxoplasmosis acquisita lymphonodosa. Thesis. Munksgaard, Copenhagen 1961.Google Scholar
Stahle, J. (1976) Advanced Mèniere's disease. Acta Otolaryngologica, 81: 113119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Townsend, J. J., Wolinsky, J. S., Baringer, J. R., Johnson, P. C. (1975) Acquired Toxoplasmosis. Archives of Neurology, 32: 335345.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilke, J. (1961) Toxoplasmose und Menieresches Syndrom. Hals, Nasen und Ohrenheilkunde, 9: 251254.Google Scholar