why children lose their hearing and what we can do 211
To treat neurosyphilis
When syphilis affects the nervous system it can cause severe hearing loss.
This can happen when syphilis is left untreated, but babies can also be born
with it. Fortunately this form of nerve deafness can be treated, which will
prevent further hearing loss. Testing for neurosyphilis may include blood tests
or a lumbar puncture (test of fluid from the spine).
If you cannot get the child tested, but strongly suspect syphilis, give the
treatment.
For children younger than 2 years:
• inject benzylpenicillin slowly into the muscle or into the vein.
Give 25,000 units (15 mg) for every kilo of body weight
2 times a day for 10 days.
or
• inject procaine benzylpenicillin slowly into the muscle.
Give 50,000 units (50 mg) for every kilo of body weight
1 time a day for 10 days.
For children 2 years and older:
• inject benzylpenicillin slowly into the muscle or into the vein.
Give 200,000 to 300,000 units (120 to 180 mg) for every kilo of
body weight (up to a maximum of 2.4 million units or 1.44 g)
1 time a day for 14 days.
To cure syphilis completely, the
full treatment is essential.
Hearing loss caused by syphilis may
develop when the child is an infant, or
later as a teenager. Treating syphilis
will not fix any hearing loss that has
already occurred, but it will prevent
any hearing loss that could still be
caused.
See the books Where There Is No
Doctor or Where Women Have No Doctor,
published by the Hesperian Foundation, for more information about
syphilis.
Note: If a child is born with syphilis, the child’s mother and father will also
need treatment.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)