Congenital Zika virus increases risk for sensorineural hearing loss

Children impacted by congenital Zika virus should be considered at an increased risk for hearing impairment and late-onset hearing loss, warranting regular follow-up after initial screenings, according to a recent MMWR. “Hearing loss is a well-established feature of other congenital infections, including cytomegalovirus, rubella, toxoplasmosis, herpes simplex and syphilis,” Mariana C. Leal, PhD, professor of otolaryngology from the Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil, and colleagues wrote. “In these syndromes, the hearing loss is sensorineural, usually bilateral, and severe or profound; it is often undetectable at birth, and sometimes it is progressive or fluctuating.” To determine the relationship between congenital Zika infection and hearing loss in infants, Leal and colleagues conducted a retrospective study that included 70 patients aged 0 to 10 months with a diagnosis of microcephaly and positive Zika laboratory results. Children underwent assessment that included auditory screening and diagnostic testing recommended by the AAP’s Joint Committee on Infant Hearing...