Hearing loss and tinnitus among pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection: our experience

ABSTRACT

Background: Hearing impairment and tinnitus are common otological manifestations found in the outpatient Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Hearing loss and tinnitus have been documented among coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, these clinical manifestations were rarely investigated among pediatric patients with COVID-19 infections. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of hearing impairment and tinnitus among children with COVID-19 infection at a teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive study where 192 children with COVID-19 infections were evaluated for hearing loss and tinnitus. There were 44 (22.91%) children with COVID-19 infections presenting with hearing loss and tinnitus. All of the children were confirmed as COVID-19 infection with the help of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the nasopharyngeal swab. Detailed history taking and clinical examination of the ear were done for the assessment of hearing loss and tinnitus and its outcome was analyzed. Results: Out of 44 children, 20 (45.45%) were presented with tinnitus, 16 (36.36%) were presented with hearing loss, and 8 (18.18%) were presented with both hearing loss and tinnitus. Out of 44 pediatric patients with hearing loss and/or tinnitus, 26 (59.09%) were males and 18 (40.90%) were females with a male child to female child ratio of 1.441. The mean age of the participants was 9.16 years with an age range from 5 to 18 years. The sporadic type of tinnitus is more common than any other type. Conclusion: This study showed that the presence of subjective neurological features like hearing loss and tinnitus can be found in children with COVID-19 infection. More studies are required to confirm the exact pathophysiology mechanism underlying this subjective symptom in pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection.