Two leading causes of hearing loss in infants and young children have
been bacterial meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) a
nd congenital toxoplasmosis. In this two-part review, we describe the
essential nature and incidence of these two diseases and how the avail
ability of a Hib vaccine effective and safe with infants as young as 2
mo of age; the prospect of universal immunization against Hib disease
; the introduction of cephalosporin antibiotic and corticosteroid trea
tment; and the use of early and prolonged antimicrobial therapy with c
hildren with congenital toxoplasmosis promises significant reduction,
if not complete eradication, of hearing loss in infants and toddlers a
ttributable to Hib bacterial meningitis and congenital toxoplasmosis.
As a result, there may be up to a third fewer children under the age o
f five with severe hearing impairment annually in the United States.