R Drake1, J Dravitski, L Voss. 1. Departments of Paediatrics and Audiology, Starship Children's Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. r.drake@auckland.ac.nz
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the outcome of sensorineural hearing loss in children who have had confirmed meningococcal meningitis. METHODS: A retrospective audit of children admitted to the Starship Children's Hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis during a 4-year period. RESULTS: Sixty-five children had confirmed meningococcal meningitis. Dexamethasone was administered according to recommended guidelines in 46 children (72%) while 12 children (19%) did not receive steroids at any stage. All children were appropriately referred for hearing assessment. Forty-nine children (75%) had their hearing tested and reliable sensorineural evaluation was obtained in all but one case. Thirty-four children (70%) were seen up to 6 weeks from discharge, 86% by 12 weeks. Sixteen cases (25%) did not attend for audiological assessment. Sensorineural hearing impairment was found in two children (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Children with meningococcal meningitis were reliably referred for audiological assessment but 39% either failed to attend for an outpatient hearing evaluation (25%) or had an unacceptable delay between discharge and testing (14%). Of those reliably tested, two children (4.2%) had significant sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE: To review the outcome of sensorineural hearing loss in children who have had confirmed meningococcal meningitis. METHODS: A retrospective audit of children admitted to the Starship Children's Hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis during a 4-year period. RESULTS: Sixty-five children had confirmed meningococcal meningitis. Dexamethasone was administered according to recommended guidelines in 46 children (72%) while 12 children (19%) did not receive steroids at any stage. All children were appropriately referred for hearing assessment. Forty-nine children (75%) had their hearing tested and reliable sensorineural evaluation was obtained in all but one case. Thirty-four children (70%) were seen up to 6 weeks from discharge, 86% by 12 weeks. Sixteen cases (25%) did not attend for audiological assessment. Sensorineural hearing impairment was found in two children (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS:Children with meningococcal meningitis were reliably referred for audiological assessment but 39% either failed to attend for an outpatient hearing evaluation (25%) or had an unacceptable delay between discharge and testing (14%). Of those reliably tested, two children (4.2%) had significant sensorineural hearing loss.
Authors: Jonathan C Kopelovich; John A Germiller; Adrienne M Laury; Samir S Shah; Avrum N Pollock Journal: Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2011-02-21