TY - JOUR AU - Bozzola, Elena; Spina, Giulia; Marsella, Pasquale; Scorpecci, Alessandro; Mascolo, Cristina; Salvatori, Martina; Roversi, Marco; Villani, Alberto TI - Predicting Parameters for Audiological Complications in Pediatric Patients Affected by Meningitis SN - 1305-7707 SN - 1305-7693 PY - 2021 JO - J Pediatr Infect Dis JF - Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases LA - EN VL - 16 IS - 05 SP - 187 EP - 193 DA - 2021/07/13 KW - meningitis KW - children KW - hearing loss/impairment KW - audiological sequelae AB - Objective Meningitis is one of the most common causes of acquired sensorineural hearing loss in childhood. The aim of this study was to identify parameters predicting long-term audiological complications in meningitis.Methods Patients under 18 years admitted to the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital between March 2001 and February 2019 with a diagnosis of meningitis entered the study. Audiological complications had been investigated during hospitalization and at follow-up.Results During the study period, 425 patients were enrolled. Sensorineural hearing loss was observed in 48 patients (11.3%). Multivariate analysis has shown that female gender predisposes to the development of permanent hearing loss after meningitis. Hearing impairment was associated with pneumococcal etiology (p < 0.001), lethargy (p = 0.027), reduced cerebrospinal fluid glucose level (26.18 mg/dL, p = 0.004), increase in both C-reactive protein (17.77 mg/dL, p = 0.001), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (106.3 mm/h, p = 0.004). At follow-up, 19 patients had a persisting hearing damage, 7 recovered their hearing capacity and 20 were lost to follow-up. Among patients with permanent hearing damage, treatment was necessary in 16 patients. In details, 6 patients required external hearing aids and 10 patients required a cochlear implant.Conclusions Female gender, lethargy at onset, reduced cerebrospinal fluid glucose level, increased inflammation index, and pneumococcal etiology are correlated with sensorineural hearing damage in meningitis patients. PB - Georg Thieme Verlag KG DO - 10.1055/s-0041-1731712 UR - http://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0041-1731712 ER -