Hearing loss: Can it be neurobrucellosis?

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection transmitted from animals to humans mostly by ingestion through infected food products, direct contact with an infected animal. It can involve any organ system and present with a broad spectrum of clinical findings. Central nervous system involvement, so called neurobrucellosis, is rarely seen in pediatric age population. Neurologic manifestations may also show great variability and lead to confusion in diagnosis. Here, we report a case of chronic neurobrucellosis presenting with gradually worsening sensorineural hearing loss and subsequently developed meningitis. A 15 years old girl was diagnosed as neurobrucellosis with the aid of positive serum and CSF agglutination tests, in addition to clinical findings and positive exposure history to unpasteurized dairy products. Clinicians serving in endemic areas should consider brucellosis in differential diagnosis of such atypical clinical presentations to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2015;5(3): 125-128

Key words: Hearing loss, neurobrucellosis, meningitis.

Keywords

• Hearing loss, neurobrucellosis, meningitis

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Öz

Brusella, insanlara çoğunlukla enfekte yiyeceklerin yenmesiyle veya enfekte hayvan ile doğrudan temas yoluyla geçen bir zoonozdur. Her organ sistemini tutabilir ve buna bağlı olarak çok çeşitli klinik bulgularla ortaya çıkabilir. Çocukluk çağında merkezi sinir sistemi tutulumu nadirdir. Nörolojik bulgular da çeşitlilik gösterebilir ve bu durum tanıyı güçleştirebilir. Burada giderek ilerleyen çift taraflı sensorinöral işitme kaybı ve sonrasında gelişen menenjit ile başvuran bir nörobruselloz vakası sunuldu. On beş yaşındaki kız çocuğuna, klinik bulguları ve pastörize edilmemiş süt ve süt ürünü alımı öyküsüne ek olarak serum ve BOS aglutinasyon testlerinin pozitif sonuç vermesiyle nörobruselloz tanısı konuldu. Brusellozun endemik olduğu bölgelerde çalışan hekimlerin benzer şekilde atipik belirtilerle başvuran hastalarda nörobrusellozu akılda tutması tanıda gecikmelerin önlenmesi açısından önemlidir

Anahtar Kelimeler

• İşitme kaybı, nörobruselloz, menenjit

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