Ototoxicity in children
WITH all pharmaceutical drugs there are risks of side effects, some with the potential to cause serious after-effects and wreak havoc on even unrelated parts of the body. One known complication of drug use is ototoxicity, or ear poisoning – as it is commonly called. “This refers to damage to the nerve that supplies the ear, or the structures of the ear mainly those affecting balance and it is usually as a side effect or complication of some medications used to treat very serious conditions in childhood,” Dr Anona Griffith, paediatrician at Gateway Plaza, Old Harbour explained.
She pointed out that what happens with ototoxicity is that when the inner ear – which is responsible for maintaining balance, or the part of the ear responsible for receiving and sending sounds to the brain, the vestibulo-cochlear nerve, are is exposed to the chemicals in some drugs this can cause damage resulting in a disruption in its normal functions.
She notes a list antibiotics which have been found to contribute to ototoxicity includes those used in the of treatment tuberculosis, as well as chemotherapy medications. Aspirin containing agents have also been implicated.
Dr Griffith said that the effects of ototoxicity may vary from child to child depending on factors such as age and type and strength of medication used. Symptoms could be noticed immediately following a course of treatments or gradually.
“Manifestations of ototoxicity include problems with balance, ringing in the ear as well as hearing loss. In children who are developing, they may manifest as having delayed speech and language, imbalance in terms of activities, and sometimes delayed gross motor milestones,” Dr Griffith outlined.
She warned that if the issue is not detected early enough and actions not taken immediately to treat ototoxicity there could be significant effects and long-term implications.
“Damage may be temporary or permanent as well as reversible (rare), but most often it’s irreversible. It cannot be predicted at what point during treatment the damage may occur. However, oftentimes the effect is not noted during the period the medication is being administered or even immediately after completion of the course, and hence may not be associated with the medication itself,” Dr Griffith explained.
She said that since the medications are often necessary to save lives, and usually there are no alternative drugs, parents should discuss with their child’s healthcare provider the possible side effects of any medication proposed and the risk and benefits weighed. This way she said parents will be able to monitor the child and act quickly should the child develop any possible complications to allow for early detection and intervention.
