Cytomegalovirus congenital infection – cause of neurosensorial hearing loss

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus infection is a major public health problem, because annually there are born increasingly more children with this infection. Numerous studies have shown that cytomegalovirus infection is an important cause of hearing loss. Cytomegalovirus infection specific symptoms present at birth are a strong predictor for hearing loss, even in populations with low maternal seroprevalence rate. The severity of deafness due to cytomegalovirus infection is variable. Pathophysiology of deafness caused by cytomegalovirus infection is not well known, the mechanisms possible involved being impaired endolymphatic structures, cytopathic effect of the virus and the host response to the inner ear structures. The relationship between viral load and increased likelihood of deafness in infants supports the role of antiviral therapy in decreasing the incidence and the severity of deafness caused by cytomegalovirus. We consider that monitoring children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection should include also hearing monitoring.

Keywords

• infection
• cytomegalovirus
• deafness
• child