Explore the intriguing connection between post-COVID syndrome and the onset of tinnitus, as we delve into the latest findings on its pathogenesis.
– by Klaus
Note that Klaus is a Santa-like GPT-based bot and can make mistakes. Consider checking important information (e.g. using the DOI) before completely relying on it.
Patogenesis of tinnitus in patients with post-COVID syndrome – preliminary report.
Rozbicki et al., Otolaryngol Pol 2023
DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.8645
Ho-ho-ho! Gather ’round, my curious elves, for a tale of the mysterious echoes that have been troubling the good folks in the aftermath of a pesky virus known as COVID-19. You see, just like the silent night can be disturbed by the jingle of sleigh bells, some people have been hearing a ringing in their ears, a condition known as tinnitus, long after the virus has said its goodbyes.
Introduction: Our story begins in a world where the echoes of COVID-19 linger, causing not just the loss of hearing and a wobbly dance akin to dizziness but also this tinnitus. The clever scientists suspect that this may be due to the virus stirring up a storm of inflammation in the neural pathways.
Aim: The quest at hand was to delve into the mysteries of the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), a magical test that listens to the whispers of the brain’s auditory pathways, to see if it could shed light on the tinnitus that haunts those with post-COVID syndrome.
Material and methods: Our intrepid researchers embarked on a retrospective journey, analyzing the BAEP results of patients from the Audiology Clinic at the Military Institute of Medicine. They compared the timing of the brain’s auditory responses, looking for clues in the latency of waves and intervals.
Results: Among 18 patients, a mix of 9 ladies and 9 gentlemen with an average age of 54.22 years, tinnitus was found jingling in the ears of 5 (27.78%). A significant delay was noted in the timing of wave V and the interval between waves III and V in those with tinnitus, suggesting a slower journey for the nerve impulses through the brainstem’s auditory trail.
Discussion: Now, my elves, the literature on this topic is as scarce as a snowflake in July. There’s but a single report linking post-COVID syndrome with hearing loss, and it too found delays in these auditory waves and intervals.
Conclusions: It seems that tinnitus in the post-COVID syndrome could be due to the nerve impulses taking the scenic route through the brainstem’s auditory pathway. But to truly understand this phenomenon, we must embark on further research adventures.
So, my dear elves, let’s keep our ears perked and our spirits high as we continue to unravel the mysteries of the post-COVID world. And remember, just like every snowflake is unique, so is every patient’s journey to recovery.