Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC202546 (Oral 027) | Published: 15 Aug 2025
Sulymon Ayobami Saka1,2,&, Faustina Funmilayo Blackie1,2, Eustace Eromosele Oseghale1, Magdalene Akhabule1, Okechukwu John Eze1, Aiwanose Dennis Ebhota1,2, Joachim Osikpamobo Oboh1,2, Evans Abumen1,2, Monday Agbonifo1,2
1Department of Otolaryngology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, 2Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
&Corresponding author: Sulymon Saka, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua Edo State, Nigeria, Email: sakasulymon@gmail.com
Received: 24 Mar 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 15 Aug 2025
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Lassa fever, hearing loss, audiometry, viral hemorrhagic fever, sensorineural
©Sulymon Ayobami Saka et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Sulymon Ayobami Saka et al., A promising therapeutic approach for post-Lassa fever sensorineural hearing loss. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(Conf Proc 5):00027. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00027
Post-Lassa fever sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a debilitating complication affecting over 35% of survivors, with limited understanding of its pathophysiology and management. Despite its clinical importance, evidence-based therapeutic approaches for post-Lassa fever SNHL remain scarce.
A 13-year-old girl with profound unilateral SNHL in the right ear following Lassa fever recovery, confirmed by clinical examinations, including voice and Weber tests as there was no audiometric service at presentation. An evidence-based therapeutic regimen was initiated, including I.V mannitol (2g/kg 12hourly administered over 30minutes for 24 hours), I.V hydrocortisone (2mg/kg 12 hourly for 24 hours), oral betahistine (8mg 12 hourly) to enhance inner ear circulation and neurovite (1 tablet 12 hourly) to support nerve regeneration.
Within 16 hours of treatment, the patient demonstrated significant improvement, responding to loud voice in the affected ear. Post-treatment KuduWave pure-tone audiometry (PTA) showed improvement, with pure tone average of 102dB. However, the patient reported persistent tinnitus and hyperacusis, suggesting residual nerve irritation or acoustic trauma which resolved 2 weeks after discharge. The rapid response to mannitol and hydrocortisone supports the hypothesis that inflammation and endolymphatic hydrops may play a critical role in post-Lassa fever SNHL. Betahistine and neurovite contributed to inner ear circulation and nerve recovery respectively. Patient was discharged on prednisolone (0.5mg/kg twice daily) after 24 hours, to continue betahistine and neurovite as initially prescribed at admission. Repeat PTA average at one week showed increased pure tone average in the left (47dB) and reduced pure tone average in the affected ear (80dB). One month follow up were 43dB in the left and 57dB in the affected ear.
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