The novel Coronavirus had shaken the world to its core where the economy, education, medical facilities, and humanity is suffering a major loss. The novel pandemic is confusing people and doctors to exactly spot the signs & symptoms to understand what to cure and what not to focus on the human body. Till now the symptoms of COVID are preferably dry cough, fever, respiratory problems and then there was itchiness in eyes and fungal patches on the skin (found in few patients). But recently according to a study published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology, the very first case of hearing loss was reported due to COVID-19 in and around April.
The scientists and doctors have yet not been able to define the definite relation of hearing loss and the pandemic but certain figures have said otherwise where patients may have recovered from the manifestations of the virus but continued to lose their hearing ability. In fact, in one of the articles published in Medium by Shin Jie Yong a research group in Turkey commented on a Thailand patient’s report who suffered from hearing loss saying, “Probably, a neuro-auditory problem developed in the patient”.
But reports conclusively point towards the chances that the hearing loss is more likely to occur due to Ototoxicity which is a result of the treatment and the drug ingestion for SARs-Covid2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2).
How is the Virus affecting the Peripheral Auditory System?
Although there has been less evidence as to how the virus is affecting the neurological functions there has been a reported case of hearing loss in people from the age group of 20-50 years who do not have any prior medical history associated with hearing. Experts have also mentioned their concern on the signs of hearing loss could be due to certain pre-existing behavioral patterns such as social isolation due to fear of coming in to close contact with the disease and contracting it or stress and anxiety prevailing in people. The use of a term, ‘Generalized Anxiety Disorder’ is quite consistent when the professionals state the reason behind hearing loss. This is most likely to lead to causing an excruciating and chronic occurrence of Tinnitus/Hearing Loss.
According to researches and studies, the virus is affecting the Inner Ear which is known as ‘Cochlear’. It is a spiral-shaped bone inside the inner ear and is responsible for playing the role of conversion of sound waves into neural signals which is interpreted by the brain for causing the sense of hearing. Moreover, this is majorly happening in those COVID positive patients who are presumably asymptomatic.
Ototoxicity & SARs-Cov-2 Drug
Oto means ‘Ear’, and Toxicity means ‘Poisoning’. This is conclusive of any drugs or chemical consumed that causes damage in the vestibulocochlear nerve. Ototoxicity can lead to a disruption in the sense of hearing as well as balance for which the Cochlear is responsible. This drug to cure SARs-COV-2 is more likely to cause ototoxicity because according to reports these COV-2 particles are found in the brain stem which may involve Temporal Lobe. Further, when physicians asked the patients for imaging tests, these particles had already disrupted the brainstem leading to ‘Neuronal Damage’. This Cochlear hair cells are more vulnerable due to their high metabolic activity and causing ischemic activity as well.
All this was found in July update at the University Hospital of Ferrara by the audiologists who believed that certain SARs-COV-2 drug is causing more hearing impairment than others but the suffering is ranged from low to moderate level and not completely turning out to be deaf.
The continued research is now also slowly moving forward to show that due to the attack of the virus on the body the virus might cause a slow supply of oxygen for better blood circulation (virus-induced hypoxia) which is also causing a shortage of breathing in COVID positive patients.
The Drugs responsible for Ototoxicity used to treat COVID-19
- Azithromycin
- Remdesivir
- Favipiravir
- Lopinavir
These are few drugs prescribed reportedly by doctors to treat COVID and there dosages and duration of intake would conclude the amount of hearing impairment.
