PROGRESS IN THE PREVENTION OF HEARING-LOSS IN INFANTS

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.