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Fluctuating hearing loss in West African and West Indian racial groups: yaws, syphilis or Menière's disease?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

R. J. Black ,
W. P. R. Gibson  and
J. W. R. Capper
R. J. Black
Affiliation:
Senior E.N.T. Registrar, Royal Free Hospital, London.
W. P. R. Gibson
Affiliation:
Consultant Neuro-otologist, The National Hospitals for Nervous Diseases, London. Address for reprints: Mr. W. P. R. Gibson, The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square, London, WC1.
J. W. R. Capper
Affiliation:
Senior E.N.T. Registrar, Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
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Abstract

Four cases of fluctuating hearing loss in West African and West Indian racial groups are presented. Two are Menière's disease, and the authors are unaware of any report in English publications describing Menière's disease in these racial groups. One is late syphilitic hearing loss and the other is idiopathic. The possible role of yaws is presented and long-held beliefs questioned.

Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 96 , Issue 9 , September 1982 , pp. 847 - 855
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1982

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