Annals of Case Reports and Clinical Studies (ISSN: 2834-5673) | Volume 5, Issue 4 | Case Report | Open Access

When Fever Silences Sound: Scrub Typhus Presenting as Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

S Anton Charles*

Kanishka Verma1, Harsha Vardhan Alagari2, S Anton Charles3*, Shaun Nevil4 and Chaitra CS5

1Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, India

2Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, India

3Department of Internal Medicine, ESIC Medical College & PGIMSR, Karnataka, India

4Department of Internal Medicine, ESIC Medical College & PGIMSR, Karnataka, India

5Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, ESIC Medical College & PGIMSR, Karnataka, India

*Correspondence to: S Anton Charles 

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Abstract

Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, typically presents as an acute febrile illness but may rarely manifest with atypical features. We report a 32-year-old male presenting with acute unilateral sensorineural hearing loss following febrile illness, without eschar. Laboratory findings revealed thrombocytopenia and transaminitis, with positive serology confirming scrub typhus. The patient improved with doxycycline and adjunctive corticosteroids, showing significant hearing recovery. This case highlights sensorineural hearing loss as a rare early manifestation, likely due to vasculitic or immune-mediated cochlear injury, emphasizing the need for early suspicion and prompt treatment in endemic regions to prevent complications.

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Citation:

Kanishka Verma, Harsha Vardhan Alagari, S Anton Charles, Shaun Nevil and Chaitra CS. When Fever Silences Sound: Scrub Typhus Presenting as Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Ann Case Rep Clin Stud. 2026;5(4):1-4.