In search of the aetiology of deafness in Nigeria — the probable role of rubella infection

Abstract

The present study attempts to establish a relationship between maternal rubella and congenital deafness in Nigeria. For the purpose of the survey, the immunological status with respect to rubella infection of 179 healthy but deaf school children (study group) and 248 school children with normal hearing (control group) was determined. The serological technique employed was the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. The percentage of immunized persons ranged from 48.6 to 74.2% in the study group and 55.3 to 68.3% in the control group. Furthermore, the HI antibody titres for the study group were not significantly different from those of the control group although both groups were found to exhibit low HI antibody titres. The presence of low titres of HI antibodies in both groups and the absence of any significant correlation between the state of hearing and HI antibody levels seem to indicate that intrauterine rubella is not an important cause of congenital deafness in Nigeria.