Publication Details
Abstract
Objective: The present investigation was designed to characterize in detail the clinical manifestations and audiological profile of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in pediatric patients with concurrent Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections.
Materials and Methods: A total of 115 children aged between 1 and 7 years diagnosed with SNHL in association with toxoplasmosis and CMV infection were enrolled as the main study cohort. The control group consisted of 30 children with SNHL in whom no evidence of toxoplasma or CMV infection was detected. Patients with hereditary forms of hearing loss, central nervous system pathology, congenital anomalies of the auditory system, acute or chronic purulent otitis media, prior exposure to ototoxic agents, or a history of ear trauma were excluded from the analysis. Auditory function was assessed using short-latency auditory evoked potentials (SLAEP).
Results: Analysis of the primary cohort demonstrated that mild (grade I) SNHL was present in 14.8% of cases, moderate (grade II) in 30.4%, severe (grade III) in 46.1%, and profound (grade IV) in 8.7% of patients. In the comparison group, grade I SNHL was identified in 13.3% of children, grade II in 33.3%, while severe and profound impairment (grades III–IV) were observed in 26.7% of cases with equal distribution. Bilateral involvement was documented in all examined patients, with no cases of unilateral hearing loss detected. Importantly, a predominance of severe and profound bilateral SNHL (grades III–IV) was noted in both cohorts, particularly in children with infectious comorbidity.
Conclusions: The obtained data indicate a tendency toward more pronounced bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment in children with combined toxoplasma and CMV infection, with nearly half of the patients exhibiting severe degrees of hearing loss. These findings emphasize the clinical importance of своевременной audiological screening and structured follow-up in this high-risk pediatric population.