Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2009 | Case report
Sensorineural hearing loss in Lassa fever: two case reports
Authors:
Peter O. Okokhere, Titus S. Ibekwe, George O. Akpede
Published in:
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|
Issue 1/2009
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Abstract
Introduction
Lassa fever is an acute arena viral haemorrhagic fever with varied neurological sequelae. Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the rare complications which occur usually during the convalescent stage of the infection.
Case presentation
The cases of two female patients aged 19 and 43 years old, respectively, with clinical features suggestive of Lassa fever and confirmed by immunoserological/Lassa-virus-specific reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction are presented. Both patients developed severe sensorineural hearing loss at acute phases of the infections.
Conclusion
Sensorineural hearing loss from Lassa fever infections can occur in both acute and convalescent stages and is probably induced by an immune response.