As practitioners dedicated to improving children's outcomes, understanding the impact of severe illnesses on developmental aspects is crucial. Recent research titled Severe malaria in children leads to a significant impairment of transitory otoacoustic emissions - a prospective multicenter cohort study highlights a significant concern: severe malaria's impact on hearing in children.
This study conducted in Ghana, Gabon, and Kenya examined 144 children with severe malaria and 108 healthy controls. The results were eye-opening. At baseline, only 58.5% of malaria patients passed otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening, compared to 92.6% of controls. This indicates a substantial initial impairment in the inner ear function among malaria patients.
Key findings include:
- At follow-up (14-28 days post-diagnosis), the passing rate improved to 65.2% for malaria patients, still significantly lower than controls.
- Children with cerebral malaria showed a drop in passing percentage to 33% at 3-7 days post-diagnosis, indicating more severe and persistent impairment.
- Severe non-cerebral malaria cases improved over time, with a passing rate of 72.9% at follow-up.
These results underscore the necessity for audiological screening post-severe malaria. Early identification and intervention can mitigate long-term developmental impacts. Practitioners should consider implementing routine hearing assessments for children recovering from severe malaria, particularly those with neurological symptoms.
Further research is essential to explore long-term effects and develop comprehensive screening protocols. This study serves as a pivotal step towards understanding and addressing the hidden impacts of severe malaria on children's auditory health.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Severe malaria in children leads to a significant impairment of transitory otoacoustic emissions - a prospective multicenter cohort study.
