Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection as a Cause of Paediatric Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection diagnosis with pediatric patients.

Methodology: This cross-sectional investigation encompassed a cohort of 60 children (ages 1–16 years) diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), who were recruited from the Audiology Department of Children’s Hospital Lahore during the period from September 2017 to February 2018, subsequent to receiving Institutional Review Board (IRB) authorization. The severity of SNHL was categorized utilizing pure-tone audiometry (according to AAO criteria), while the diagnosis of CMV infection was established through serum antibody assessment employing the chemiluminescence method (Access 2 system). Demographic and clinical information were gathered via a structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. Automated serological testing estimated CMV IgG and IgM antibodies in blood samples.

Results: out of 60 cases, (56.67%) patients were females and (43.33%) patients were male while 44(73.33%) patients observed with CMV IgG reactive and only 16(26.67%) patients observed with CMV IgG nonreactive. and out of 60 cases 14(23.3%) patients observed with CMV IgM reactive and 46(76.67%)CMV IgM nonreactive. Predictors of paediatric sensorineural hearing loss identified by logistic regression were male (OR:2.12,CI 95%:0.205-5.58; P value = 0.93), age (OR:1.00,CI 95%:0.954-1.05; P value = 0.961), weight (OR:3.82,CI 95%:0.795-18.3;P-value 0.094), positive reaction of CMV IgG (OR:1.88, CI 95%: 0.43-1.78; P value = 0.45) and positive reaction of CMV IgM level (OR:1.89, CI 95%: 0.92-3.98; P value = 0.092)

Conclusion: In conclusion, congenital CMV infection plays a major role as a cause of bilateral and unilateral SNHL in children that was hospitalized in Children Hospital Lahore.