Int J Infect Dis
. 2020 Jun 11;S1201-9712(20)30458-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.023. Online ahead of print.
Could Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Be the Sole Manifestation of COVID-19? An Investigation Into SARS-COV-2 in the Etiology of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Osman Kılıc 1 , Mahmut Tayyar Kalcıoglu 2 , Yasemin Cag 3 , Ozan Tuysuz 1 , Emel Pektas 4 , Hulya Caskurlu 3 , Ferihan Cetın 5
Affiliations
- PMID: 32535294
- PMCID: PMC7289736
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.023
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in patients presenting with only sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) during the pandemic.
Methods: The study included 5 male patients who presented with the sole complaint of unilateral SSNHL to the otolaryngology outpatient clinic between April 3 and April 12, 2020. The patients were referred to the infectious diseases clinic to be evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 by using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.
Results: RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 were positive in one of the patient and negative in rest four patients. We also noted positive response to Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) specific treatment in SARS-CoV-2 positive SSNHL patient.
Conclusion: It should be kept in mind that non-specific symptoms such as SSNHL could be the only sign to recognize a COVID-19 case. Awareness of such a non-specific presentation of COVID-19 patients is crucial during this pandemic period for the prevention of infectious spread through isolation and early initiation of COVID-19 targeted treatment.
Keywords: COVID-19; Pandemic; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.