Transient Hearing Loss in Adults Associated With Zika Virus Infection

Abstract

In 2015, during the outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil, we identified 3 cases of acute hearing loss after exanthematous illness. Serology yielded finding compatible with ZIKV as the cause of a confirmed (n = 1) and a probable (n = 2) flavivirus infection, indicating an association between ZIKV infection and transient hearing loss.

Keywords: Zika virus; dizziness.; sensorineural hearing loss; tinnitus.

Figure 1.

Clinical course and laboratory results and time-based audiometry examinations for Zika virus–infected patients 1–3 (A–C, respectively). For the audiometry examinations, the frequency in hertz of the test tones is shown on the horizontal axis and sound intensity in decibels is shown on the vertical axis. Red symbols indicate responses for the right ear (AD), and blue symbols indicate responses for the left ear (AS). The “X” and “O” symbols represent responses to air-conducted stimuli. The “■” symbols represent responses to air-conducted stimuli with masking. The “<” and “>” symbols represent responses to bone-conducted stimuli. The “[” and “]” symbols represent responses to bone-conducted stimuli with masking. Thresholds of ≤20 dB were considered normal. Abbreviations: CHIKV, Chikungunya virus; DENV, dengue virus; HAI, hemagglutination inhibition assays; IgM, immunoglobulin M; PRNT, plaque reduction neutralization titer; qPCR, polymerase chain reaction; ZIKV, Zika virus.