Meningitis: Hearing implant is a major cause

[Guest guest]

The cochlear implant is a special type of hearing aid that allows the

profoundly deaf to function in the world – but it also causes

meningitis, it's suddenly been discovered.

 

Meningitis is dramatically higher among the 80,000 people who have had

an implant since the 1980s, researchers have discovered. In most

cases, the person has died.

 

There's been a marked increase in infections since 2002, which suggests

that a particular design – which was withdrawn from the market that

year – may be one of the causes of infection.

 

It may also be associated to the operation itself when the implant is

inserted, as it involves fracturing the bony structures of the inner

ear. People who suffer from the ear disease otitis media are

especially at risk.

 

(Source: British Medical Journal, 2007; 335: 1058).