Audiological evaluation following snake bite - Case Report

Abstract

We are reporting a case with hearing loss following krait snake bite. Case was diagnosed as snake bite and treated in the emergency department and after stabilising she was referred to the oto-rhinolaryngology department for evaluation of sudden hearing loss. Audiological evaluation was carried out to identify degree, type of hearing loss and site of lesion. Puretone audiometry showed bilateral moderate sensory neural hearing loss. The diagnosis was confirmed with Transient evokedotoacoustic emissions and Click evoked auditory brainstem response testing. From the above audiological tests it is evident that the snake bite victim has cochlear hearing loss. This could be due to the venom carried away from the wound by the lymphatics and then is circulated by the blood stream throughout the body.