Hearing status in brucellosis.

BACKGROUND

Although brucellosis can lead to multisystem complications, involvement of the ear in brucellosis is rarely reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to assess the hearing status of patients with brucellosis.

STUDY

DESIGN

Thirty-two patients with brucellosis were included in the study. Pure tone and speech audiometry and tympanometry were performed in the patients.

RESULTS

The mean pure tone averages of the patients were within normal limits and were similar in both ears (P > 0.05). The pure tone averages of the patients with or without anti-Brucella treatment were not significantly different (P > 0.05) and were within the normal limits. When the hearing levels of these patients were compared at the frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz, there was no significant difference as well (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Peripheral brucellosis does not appear to be associated with hearing loss.