Hearing impairment after acute bacterial meningitis in children

Objective: To determine the incidence of hearing loss after acute episode of meningitis in children Methods: A descriptive study carried out in the Department of Pediatric Medicine of The Children’s Hospital Lahore, Pakistan from January 2014 to July 2016. A total of 175 children one month to 13 years of age admitted with diagnosis of meningitis were included. Complete blood count, CSF cytology, biochemistry and culture sensitivity were sent. CT scan brain was done if required. Hearing assessment was done two weeks after admission using otoacoustic emissions in the patients having normal tympanogram. Hearing impairment was classified as sensorineural if otoacoustic emissions were absent while tympanometry was normal. Results: Of 175 children, 58% were males and 42% were females. Mean age was 2.1 years. Orientation as assessed by Glasgow comma scale (GCS) was normal in 63% while 5% had GCS