PREVALENCE OF SENSORINEURAL HEARING-LOSS DUE TO RUBELLA IN SAUDI CHILDREN

We found positive IgM antibody against rubella virus in the blood of 2 3 out of 1,054 (2.2%) children (age ranged between 12 months and 14 ye ars). Fifteen of 23 infected children were found to have bilateral sen sorineural hearing loss (4 children of the at-risk group and 11 of 19 from the not-at-risk group). Hearing impairment was bilateral in all c ases, profound in 1, moderate to severe in 9 and mild in 5. The serolo gical results of the examined children are discussed and compared with other reported results. The prevalence rate of rubella infection is l ow. This is attributed to the universal childhood vaccination programm e compulsory for all Saudi children.