Tuberculosis Induced Changes to the Osseous Cranial Base and its Potential Effect on Hearing

Balboni, Armand L; Bergemann, Andrew D.; Reidenberg, Joy S.; Laitman, Jeffrey T.

doi:10.1002/ar.20675

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…As the cochlea is exposed to higher levels of free radicals, it can also become more susceptible to the development of age-related hearing loss, as the effects of oxidative stress are damaging to most cells with specific deletions within the mitochondrial DNA, and cells become bio-energetically deficient 36. Furthermore, it is possible that TB might alter the homeostatic mechanisms of the ear in a way comparable to that seen in age-related hearing loss 37. This causes aural symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus and vestibular fall-outs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hearing profile of gold miners with and without tuberculosis

et al. 2011

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Tuberculosis, noise-induced hearing loss, hearing profile, TB treatment, associated risk profile Word Count words ABSTRACT ObjectivesTo compare the hearing of gold miners with and without TB to determine the effect of TB and its associated risk profile on hearing. MethodsGold miners in South Africa were sampled due to the high incidence of Tuberculosis (TB).The audiological and medical surveillance data of 2698 subjects (between the years 2001 and 2009) were analysed in a retrospective cohort design. Hearing thresholds for the air conduction frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 kHz) in both ears were analysed in conjunction with biographic and occupational data. Subjects were divided into three groups, two experimental (Single TB treatment, n= 911 and Multiple TB treatment, n= 376) and a control group (n= 1411). Comparisons between groups included (i) change from baseline to most recent audiogram, (ii) most recent hearing thresholds and (iii) most recent thresholds in a subset of noise exposed (drillers) and unexposed (administrative staff) groups. ResultsHearing thresholds for the TB groups (single and multiple treatment) were significantly (p<0.01) elevated compared to those of the control group, after correcting for time between the baseline and most recent audiogram, threshold at baseline and age at test. Pair wise comparisons demonstrated the largest threshold differences between the control and multiple TB group. Changes in mean thresholds across TB treatment groups were independent of noise exposure. Hearing thresholds over time also deteriorated significantly more (p<0.01) in workers with TB (single and multiple treatment) compared to those without TB. ConclusionGold miners with TB, especially those with more than one incidence of TB, demonstrate significantly poorer hearing thresholds and a more pronounced decline in hearing over time independent of noise exposure. The exact cause is likely to be a complex interaction between TB, including its treatment and associated risk profile. What this paper adds Primary occupational health threats in gold mining are noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and occupational lung diseases (OLD) including Tuberculosis (TB). TB is associated with predisposing factors for hearing loss including a high incidence of HIV co-infection, associated opportunistic infections and ototoxic medications. This is the first study to demonstrate that gold miners with TB have significantly poorer hearing thresholds independent of noise exposure and a more pronounced decline in hearing over time. Gold miners with more than one incidence of TB demonstrate a significantly larger deterioration of hearing thresholds than those with a single incidence of TB.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%