Hesperian Health Guides
Medicines that damage hearing
HealthWiki > Helping Children Who Are Deaf > Chapter 15: Why children lose their hearing and what we can do > Medicines that damage hearing
Some medicines can damage the hearing of children who take them. Several medicines can cause hearing loss in unborn babies when the medicine is taken by the pregnant mother. The risks with these medicines are increased if the child or the mother also has kidney disease. Some common medicines that damage hearing are:
- Some aminoglycoside antibiotics can cause deafness in children (such as amikacin, garamycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, netilmicin, streptomycin, or tobramycin). This can happen when the child himself is given the antibiotic, or when his mother was given the medicine during pregnancy. These antibiotics usually have to be injected. They should be used only for serious infections that could cause death.
- Children under 12 should not take aspirin. For pain and fever children can take paracetamol (acetominophen). Aspirin can damage the hearing when taken at higher than recommended doses. It can also cause temporary deafness and buzzing in the ear (tinnitus) but these usually stop soon after stopping the aspirin.
- Quinine and chloroquine (which are used to treat malaria) can both sometimes damage hearing in the person taking them.
- If a mother uses thalidomide in pregnancy (to treat cancer, leprosy, or conditions associated with HIV/AIDS), it can cause many disabilities in a baby, including hearing problems.
Traditional ear medicines
Traditional medicines and treatments are sometimes used to treat ear problems. Some traditional treatments can be harmful. Here are some general things to remember about traditional cures for health problems:
- Never use human or animal excrement as a cure. It can give the person an infection.
- The more the cure looks like or resembles the sickness, the more likely its effect comes only from people's belief in it.
- Ears are very fragile. Do not put anything very hot in or near the ear. It can also be dangerous to pour liquids or put things in the ear.
Prevention:
Let's see if we can find an antibiotic that is safe for you and your baby.
- Help mothers avoid using medicines during pregnancy that can cause deafness in children. Pregnant women should always consult a doctor or health worker before taking medicine during pregnancy.
- Tell a health worker immediately if you think a medicine is affecting hearing.
- Do not allow untrained people to inject antibiotics.
- Do not inject antibiotics like gentamicin unless it is necessary to save a life and there are no other medicines available.