Hearing aid, meningitis risk

Last updated: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Print In response to the deaths of two children within the past year, the US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday warned doctors and consumers that the cochlear implant device used in profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing patients is associated with increased risk of bacterial meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Children with cochlear implants with a positioner component are at greatest risk.

The meningitis deaths involved two children, ages 9 and 11, who had cochlear implants with positioners. Neither child was fully vaccinated, and one died because of the lack of vaccination, the FDA said.

The agency reminded healthcare providers and consumers that people who receive cochlear implants must be fully immunised according to US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Because children with cochlear implants are at increased risk for pneumococcal meningitis, they should receive pneumococcal vaccination under the same schedules that apply to others at high risk for invasive pneumococcal disease, the CDC recommends. – (HealthDayNews)

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Hearing Centre

October 2007

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