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Ear, nose and throat
Acute labyrinthitis: a manifestation of COVID-19 in a teenager
  1. Jeyasakthy Saniasiaya and
  2. Jeyanthi Kulasegarah
  1. Otorhinolaringologi, Fakulti Perubatan, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jeyasakthy Saniasiaya; shakthy_18{at}yahoo.com

Abstract

Audiovestibular symptoms following COVID-19 have been long acknowledged, especially in adults. However, acute labyrinthitis presenting as an early manifestation of COVID-19 has not been reported in children. We report COVID-19-induced acute labyrinthitis in a teenager. We report on a boy in his early adolescence with a sudden onset of spinning sensation, imbalance and unilateral hearing loss with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Vestibular investigations point towards right labyrinthine hypofunction, and an audiometry test revealed right-sided severe hearing loss. Symptoms improved gradually with steroids and vestibular rehabilitation therapy. However, the long-term repercussions of post-COVID-19 acute labyrinthitis are unknown and must be followed up closely. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of acute labyrinthitis secondary to COVID-19 in paediatrics. Additionally, we conducted a literature search to elucidate the outcome of COVID-19-induced acute vestibular syndrome in children.

  • Paediatrics
  • Ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2023-258290

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors JS was responsible for drafting, writing, editing, investigation and literature review. JK was responsible for editing. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: JS, JK.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.