Samuel C Ficenec1, Jeffrey Percak2, Sara Arguello2, Alison Bays3, Augustine Goba4, Michael Gbakie4, Jeffrey G Shaffer5, Susan D Emmett6, John S Schieffelin2, Daniel Bausch7. 1. Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. Electronic address: sficenec@tulane.edu. 2. Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. 3. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. 4. Kenema Government Hospital, Combema Rd, Kenema, Sierra Leone. 5. Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. 6. Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Communication Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, 310 Trent Dr, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, 310 Trent Dr, Durham, NC 27710, USA. 7. Tulane Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Program, Kenema Government Hospital, Combema Rd, Kenema, Sierra Leone.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Lassa fever (LF) a hemorrhagic fever endemic to Western has an incidence of approximately 500,000 cases per year. Here, we evaluate hearing loss and other sequelae following LF. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled laboratory confirmed LF survivors, non-LF Febrile controls and Matched Community controls with no history of LF or recent hospitalization for a febrile illness. Study participants completed a symptom questionnaire. Pure-tone audiometry was completed by a subset of participants. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven subjects were enrolled aged from 3-66 years (mean = 23.3). LF survivors were significantly more likely to report balance difficulties (55% vs 20%, p < 0.001), hair loss (32% vs 7%, p < 0.001), difficulty speaking (19% vs 1%, p < 0.001), social isolation (50% vs 0%, p < 0.001), and hearing loss (17% vs 1%, p = 0.002) in comparison to Matched-Community Controls. Similar trends were noted in comparison to Febrile Controls, although these findings were non-significant. Fifty subjects completed audiometry. Audiometry found that LF survivors had significantly more bilateral hearing loss in comparison to Matched-Community Controls (30% vs 4%, p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: This study characterizes the sequelae of LF and highlights the need for increased access to hearing care in West Africa.
OBJECTIVE:Lassa fever (LF) a hemorrhagic fever endemic to Western has an incidence of approximately 500,000 cases per year. Here, we evaluate hearing loss and other sequelae following LF. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled laboratory confirmed LF survivors, non-LF Febrile controls and Matched Community controls with no history of LF or recent hospitalization for a febrile illness. Study participants completed a symptom questionnaire. Pure-tone audiometry was completed by a subset of participants. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven subjects were enrolled aged from 3-66 years (mean = 23.3). LF survivors were significantly more likely to report balance difficulties (55% vs 20%, p < 0.001), hair loss (32% vs 7%, p < 0.001), difficulty speaking (19% vs 1%, p < 0.001), social isolation (50% vs 0%, p < 0.001), and hearing loss (17% vs 1%, p = 0.002) in comparison to Matched-Community Controls. Similar trends were noted in comparison to Febrile Controls, although these findings were non-significant. Fifty subjects completed audiometry. Audiometry found that LF survivors had significantly more bilateral hearing loss in comparison to Matched-Community Controls (30% vs 4%, p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: This study characterizes the sequelae of LF and highlights the need for increased access to hearing care in West Africa.
Authors: Laura Merson; Josephine Bourner; Sulaiman Jalloh; Astrid Erber; Alex Paddy Salam; Antoine Flahault; Piero L Olliaro Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2021-09-21
Authors: Samuel C Ficenec; Donald S Grant; Ibrahim Sumah; Foday Alhasan; Mohamed S Yillah; Jenneh Brima; Edwin Konuwa; Michael A Gbakie; Fatima K Kamara; Nell G Bond; Emily J Engel; Jeffrey G Shaffer; William A Fischer; David A Wohl; Susan D Emmett; John S Schieffelin Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2022-07-18 Impact factor: 3.667