Deafness and Scarlet Fever

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I'm 84 years old, had scarlet fever in 1937, aged 5 which resulted in a perforated eardrum and total deafness in right ear. Over the years the "deaf ear" discharged from time to time but ultimately cleared up.  Managed with one ear all those years until age related deafness in left ear caused me to use an hearing aid. My

question is did the scarlet fever not only rupture the eardrum or did  it also destroy nerve endings in the cochlea thus causing the total deafness in the rigt ear ? there was never any pain associated with the discharge only an unpleasant smell! 

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Colin. I do know that viruses in general can attack the nerves and could have started such a catalyst.
    • Posted

      Hi Erica,

                     Yes I am sure that you are right. I read an article in Tuesdays 

      Daily Mai where a lady described her situation of being deaf in her right ear for the past 25 years and managed with the left ear never seeing

      her doctor after the initial infection that caused the eardrum to rupture.

      In the article how she found out a new procedure to repair the rupture in the eardrum. called endoscopic ear surgery. Having been referred to an ENT surgeon who could carry out this new procedure agreed to the keyhole surgery she can now hear after all those. I shall not bother at my age and will continue with my latest hearing aid from Wydex - and excellent aid but very expensive! Many thanks for your interest,

      and your helpful comments.

      Kind regards,

      Colin

      l

    • Posted

      That's really interesting and could be valuable for someone who searches here. Thanks for sharing. I have heard hearing aides are getting much better!

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