ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence, frequency and degree of hearing loss in patients treated with streptomycin for multidrug resistant tuberculosis
STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational study
PLACE AND DURATION: This study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi over two years time from 01 Jan 2008 to 31 December 2009
METHODOLOGY: 38 patients who were treated with streptomycin as part of antituberculous therapy meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study. Pure tone Audiometry [PTA] was done before starting the treatment, on complaint of hearing loss and after one month and two months of streptomycin therapy to determine the hearing loss
RESULTS: At the end of 2 months therapy with streptomycin 22 patients [57.9%] develop sensorineural hearing loss, amongst them 15[68.2%] were identified within 1 month of therapy. Out of 22 patients 12[54.5%] have mild, 7[31.9%] have moderate and 3[13.6%] have moderately severe hearing loss in speech frequencies
CONCLUSION: Streptomycin still has got important role in treatment of Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis. It is potentially ototoxic specially in children and old age. Careful monitoring in the form of serial audiograms is advised to pick up individuals susceptible to hearing loss with its use