Vaccination can help in preventing hearing loss in children and adolescents, as shown by a new study. The study found 26 infectious agents that can cause hearing problems.
These include common viruses and bacteria that spread during childhood and teenage years. Many of these infections can be avoided with vaccines.
Hearing loss affects over 1.5 billion people across the world. It is often seen as a problem related to ageing, but infections in early life are also an important cause.
These infections can damage the ear or the nerves linked to hearing. The World Health Organization says nearly 60 percent of hearing loss in children could be avoided through public health steps like vaccination.
Researchers from Université de Montréal in Canada and other institutions looked at many scientific studies. They found that infections such as measles, rubella and mumps can lead to hearing loss.
Rubella is especially harmful if a pregnant woman gets it, as it can cause hearing loss in the baby before birth. Mumps can damage the inner ear or the nerve connected to it, leading to permanent hearing problems.
Some bacteria that cause meningitis were also included in the list. These are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. Meningitis can cause long-term damage to hearing and other health problems.
The study was published in the journal Communications Medicine. The researchers say that the effect of vaccines on preventing hearing loss should be studied more closely. This should be done not only for new vaccines but also for those already in use.
