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. 2008 Jan-Feb;74(1):21-8.
doi: 10.1016/s1808-8694(15)30746-1.

Hearing loss in congenital toxoplasmosis detected by newborn screening

Gláucia Manzan Queiroz de Andrade  1 , Luciana Macedo de Resende, Eugênio Marcos Andrade Goulart, Arminda Lucia Siqueira, Ricardo Wagner de Almeida Vitor, José Nelio Januario
Affiliations

Hearing loss in congenital toxoplasmosis detected by newborn screening

Gláucia Manzan Queiroz de Andrade et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2008 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Congenital toxoplasmosis may cause sensorineural deficit in up to 20% of the patients and proper treatment in the first year improves prognosis. In Brazil, this infections impact on hearing impairment is unknown.

Aim: To evaluate hearing of newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis identified by the newborn screening service.

Method: This prospective study analyzed children with congenital toxoplasmosis identified by newborn screening (IgM anti-T.gondii) in Belo Horizonte during 2003/2004. The presence of IgM and/or IgA in the first 6 months or IgG at 12 months-of age in serology was used as case definition. Hearing tests were carried out at the time of diagnosis and 12 months later, including behavioral audiometry, evoked otoacoustic emission and brainstem evoked responses audiometry.

Results: Among 30.808 screened children (97% of live births), 20 had congenital toxoplasmosis, 15 (75%) were asymptomatic at birth. Nineteen children were evaluated by hearing tests. Four had sensorineural impairment (21.1%). One child had other risk factors for hearing impairment; the other three had no other risk factors but toxoplasmosis. Two properly children treated still had hearing loss, in disagreement with current literature.

Conclusion: Results suggest that congenital toxoplasmosis, common in Brazil, is a risk factor for hearing impairment and its impact on hearing loss deserves further studies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age, in days, after the firs auditory evaluation in 19 children with congenital toxoplasmosis, identified by neonatal screening.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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