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Paediatric varicella zoster virus infection causing sudden hearing loss. Background: Paediatric sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a rare condition. Although most cases of paediatric SSNHL are idiopathic, many viral infections can cause SSNHL.
Case report: A 12-year-old girl developed a high fever, otalgia, tinnitus and moderate SSNHL in her left ear. She also developed vertigo and spontaneous horizontal nystagmus to the right. She did not have facial palsy or auricular vesicles. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unremarkable. Serologic tests showed IgM positive for varicella zoster virus (VZV). Prednisolone and valacyclovir were administered. The vertigo resolved and hearing improved in 10 days. Hearing levels were completely recovered at three months after onset.
Conclusion: This case was a rare manifestation of paediatric SSNHL with recent VZV infection, which damaged the vestibulocochlear nerve but did not cause facial palsy. It is important to identify viral causes of paediatric SSNHL, since treatment options and prognosis differ according to the cause.