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. 2021 Jul-Aug;42(4):102982.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.102982. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Evaluation of cochlear functions in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 intrauterine

Turgut Celik  1 , Agit Simsek  2 , Cigdem Firat Koca  3 , Sukru Aydin  4 , Seyma Yasar  5
Affiliations

Evaluation of cochlear functions in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 intrauterine

Turgut Celik et al. Am J Otolaryngol. 2021 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused an acute respiratory illness named COVID-19 and the disease spread all over the World. Fever, cough, fatigue, gastrointestinal infection symptoms form the main clinical symptoms. Pregnants and newborns form a vulnerable population and urgent measures must be addressed. Studies about the effect of COVID-19 on pregnant women, developing fetuses, and infants are limited. Various viral diseases can cause congenital or acquired, unilateral or bilateral hearing loss.

Methods: 37 infants whose mother was pregnant between March 2020 and December 2020 and were born after the diagnosis of COVID- 19 during pregnancy and 36 healthy infants were included in the study. Transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and contralateral suppression of OAE (CLS OAE) tests were performed on all infants.

Results: According to the TEOAE results of patients and controls in the silent a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups at 3 kHz and 4 kHz (p < 0.05). Contralateral suppression of OAE test results of patients and controls a statistically significant difference was found in all frequencies (p< 0.05). Suppression was much more effective at all frequencies in the normal group than patient group. This difference was found to be more significant at higher frequencies (2,3 and 4 kHz) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our results suggest an insufficiency in medial olivocochlear efferent system in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 intrauterine. Cochlear functions should be examined in infants whose mothers had COVID-19.

Keywords: Cochlear functions; Infants; Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Contralateral supression amplitudes. The contralateral supression amplitudes of patients and controls are given in the table and figure above. There was a difference in the amplitudes of all frequencies between groups (p < 0.05). This difference was found to be more significant especially at higher frequencies (3,4 kHz) (p < 0.001).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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