The sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss (in other words sudden deafness) is a pathology frequently observed by ENTs without the cause being clearly identified. Most of the time, this sudden deafness (which often affects only one ear) is attributed to various pathologies, in particular viral, immune, a response to cellular stress or vascular occlusion.
This time, it was after being hit by Covid-19 that a 45-year-old Briton showed signs of sensorineural hearing loss, as reported by British medical journal.
Only 4 other cases listed
It was known that Covid-19 could affect taste and smell, but so far studies on the side effects of the coronavirus have not shown a negative impact on the hearing capacity of patients. British doctors who treated this patient have listed only 4 other cases in the world.
When this patient presented to the hospital, he had been showing symptoms of the coronavirus for a week. As his condition worsened, he had to be intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit for about 30 days. But a week after being released from intensive care, he noticed tinnitus on his left side and sudden hearing loss.
Steroid therapy
“On examination, his ear canals were permeable and not inflamed with intact tympanic membranes,” said the doctors. In treatment, he took oral steroids for 7 days and then received 3 steroid injections into his eardrum which resulted in some improvement, but his hearing did not fully recover.
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