Sah PK, Lamichhane HK, Tariq EF, Saroj KC, Adhikari P. Hearing loss: an unusual presentation of neurobrucellosis: a case report.
J Med Case Rep 2023;
17:129. [PMID:
36978194 PMCID:
PMC10053093 DOI:
10.1186/s13256-023-03836-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease, caused by a Gram-negative coccobacillus of Brucella genus, transmitted to humans by animals, especially cattle. It rarely involves the nervous system (neurobrucellosis); only a few cases present with hearing loss. We report a case of neurobrucellosis, that presented with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and mild to moderate persistent headache. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case from Nepal.
CASE PRESENTATION
The patient was a 40-year-old Asian male shepherd from the western mountainous region of Nepal who came to the emergency department of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara in May, 2018 and did a follow-up for 6 months. He presented with high-grade fever, profuse sweating, headache, myalgia, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. His history of consuming raw milk of cattle, symptoms including persistent mild to moderate headache, bilateral hearing loss, and serological findings were suggestive of neurobrucellosis. Following treatment, the symptoms improved, including the complete recovery of hearing loss.
CONCLUSION
Hearing loss may be the manifestation of neurobrucellosis. Physicians should know about such presentations in brucella endemic areas.
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