Sudden Unilateral Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss Due To Mumps

Abstract

mumps is and acute self-limiting systemic disease that can be potentially cause serious complications. One of its well know complications is sensorineural hearing loss. Cases of SNHL associated with mumps are only reported in 1/1000 cases. This condition is also know for its poor prognostic feature regarding the restoration of hearing. Case report: a 6 year-old boy complaining of hearing impairment following an insidious onset parotid swelling with low grade fever. He was sent home and rehabilitation plan was initiated. After 2 week he had a complication of hearing according to his mother, a diagnosis was confirmed with sudden profound sensorineural hearing loss unilateral. Medication was initiated, however there was no improvement. In our cases, hearing loss occurred within the 7th day, respectively. Many treatment strategies have failed to restore hearing, and there is no treatment proven to be effective for sudden SNHL even if steroidal therapy is initiated immediately after the recognition of hearing loss. After hearing loss has occurred due to viral etiology, the retrieval of hearing using medical therapy is considered remote. It may also be related to the severity of cochlear damage. Hearing loss due to mumps infection is likely to be permanent regardless of treatment. Vaccination alone cannot prevent such deafness and outbreak.