Bilateral Hearing Loss in Wernicke Encephalopathy
- Author:
Heewon BAE
1
;
Jae Young PARK
;
Hyun Sang CHO
;
Sung Hwan LIM
;
Sang Won HA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Wernicke encephalopathy; Thiamine; Hearing loss; Bilateral
- MeSH: Alcoholics; Ataxia; Cochlea; Hearing Loss; Hearing Loss, Bilateral; Humans; Inferior Colliculi; Thiamine; Thiamine Deficiency; Wernicke Encephalopathy
- From:Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2019;37(3):288-291
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: Wernicke encephalopathy is a syndrome caused by thiamine deficiency whose three typical symptoms are ophthalomoplegia, ataxia, and confusion. There are also rare reports of bilateral hearing loss, which can be caused by damage to the bilateral inferior colliculus or thalamic lesions, or by energy failure of the cochlea. This case suggests that thiamine should be administered based on the possibility of Wernicke encephalopathy occurring in malnourished or alcoholic patients with sudden bilateral hearing loss.
