WHOOPING-COUGH AS A/CAUSE OF DEAF- 
NESS 
M. S. FALLS, M.D., 
ASSISTANT TO DR. BURNETT’S EYE AND EAR CLINIC, CENTRAL DISPENSARY, WASHINGTON, 
D. C. 
FROM a careful examination into the predisposing and 
exciting causes of deafness, I was much impressed 
with the scant mention made of whooping-cough as an etio- 
logical factor. While our text-books and journals are very 
prolific in assigning the exanthemata, diseases of the larynx, 
and even gastritis as agents of causation, whooping-cough, 
beyond the few authorities given below, is entirely ignored. 
I consider pertussis as probably not a rare cause, but in 
dispensary practice, from which most of the cases have been 
taken, the time given to each case for examination is so ex- 
tremely limited, that the history elicited is, as a rule, im- 
perfect, and inadequate to our wants. 
Wilde, on “ Diseases of the Ear,” Phil., 1853, p. 495, cites 
five cases in which the deaf-mutism was considered the re- 
sult of whooping-cough. He further says in this connec- 
tion : “ In what way whooping-cough produces deafness, 
whether by local injury to the ear, such as occurs during a 
violent paroxysm rupturing the membrana, or from its 
effects on the nervous system, I am unable to say. Every 
one is aware of the many anomalous consequences which 
follow pertussis and popularly denominated ‘ the dregs of 
whooping-cough.’ ” Roosa, 6th ed., p. 685, reports in his 
statistics two cases in which deaf-mutism was assigned to 
pertussis. Peet, J. M., New York, 1856, pp. 53—56, tabulates 
twelve cases of deaf-mutism due to whooping-cough. 
Reprinted from the Archives of Otology, Vol. xiv., Nos. 2 and 3, 1885. 106 
M. S. Falls. 
That rupture of the membrane can occur from violent 
paroxysms of coughing I do not doubt, for several cases 
are recorded in which the violent strain from the cough has 
been followed by cerebral effusion, with paralysis as a re- 
sult. But in the cases coming under my observation, and 
that of Dr. Burnett, Director of the Ophthalmological and 
Otological Clinic of the Central Dispensary, the membrane 
was intact in all. That the deafness may be due to exten- 
sion of inflammatory action from the throat I also admit ; 
for when we consider the relative vascularity of the mem- 
brane in children and adults, we will find that the blood 
supply to the former is much greater, and that whooping- 
cough, although considered by some writers with diseases 
of the larynx and trachea, is not infrequently attended with 
hyperaemia of the Eustachian tube and tympanum. 
But in the cases which I present for consideration, we 
would not be warranted in ascribing all of them to an 
inflammatory extension from the pharynx; rather let us 
look for some nervous implication, as the deafness was in 
the majority of cases absolute, since neither the vibrations 
of the fork nor the ticking of the watch could be heard 
when applied to the teeth or cranium, or when held close 
to the ear. In view of the above we think that the follow- 
ing cases taken from Dr. Burnett’s clinic will not be without 
interest : 
Case i.—A. E., aet. eleven years. Admitted to the clinic at the 
Central Dispensary May 22, ’85. The boy presented every evi- 
dence of scrofula, and had been treated for Pott’s disease by Dr. 
S. W. Gross. 
Twelve weeks ago, had pertussis attended with great straining. 
Two weeks ago hearing was suddenly lost, the deafness being 
absolute, commencing late in the evening, and, on the following 
morning, hearing in the left ear was lost. This was attended with 
some pain, but no discharge, vertigo, or vomiting. This pain per- 
sisted for two days, and then left the patient as suddenly as it 
began. Mtt intact, but slightly more concave than normal. 
Pyramid of light not visible to the periphery of the membrane in 
either ear. Put upon specific treatment. June 8th : Gives 
manifestations of tinnitus aurium. Complaining to his sister of “a Whooping-Cough as a Cause of Deafness. 
107 
roaring ” in his head. Since put upon specific treatment, some 
vomiting and nausea immediately after taking the medicine. Dose 
reduced one half. No improvement in hearing. Have seen the 
boy several times since, but so far no amelioration. 
Case 2.—S. B., set four years. A mulatto boy, presenting every 
evidence of the scrofulous cachexia. On June 2, ’85, when he was 
first admitted, his mother gave a history to the effect that, since 
March, he has had an attack of whooping-cough. Two or three 
weeks after the onset of the disease he suddenly became deaf 
(not absolute). Three weeks ago, discharge began in the right 
ear, none from the left. Complains of no pain. Loud voice at 
one foot, with either ear. Noticed unsteadiness of gait. Mtt 
slightly thickened and red. June 9th, less injection of mem- 
brana. Voice in either ear, one foot ; probable increase of hear- 
ing after Politzer. June 9th, for two days pain in right ear. 
June 16th, gait normal ; no pain ; deafness persistent. 
The following cases, of a similar character to the above, I 
report by the kindness of Dr. Burnett, from whose private 
case-book I copy the notes. 
Case 3.—M. J., white, set thirteen years, had whooping-cough 
when about five years old. During convalescence, his parents 
noticed that his hearing power was defective. He became totally 
deaf within a year. No pain or discharge. Mtt normal. 
It is of interest to note in connection with this case, and 
as bearing on the possible inherited tendency to deafness at 
a certain age, that a brother of the above had scarlet-fever 
at five years of age. No inflammatory affection of his ears, 
but his hearing gradually left him, and in twelve months he 
was completely deaf. 
Case 4.—H. S., white, set. twelve, had suffered from impaired 
hearing, in right ear, as noticed by his parents since an attack of 
whooping-cough. Never any pain or discharge. L, W., fourteen 
feet ; R, W., faintly on contact. Mtt normal ; tubes pervious ; 
no improvement after inflation. 
The above cases occurred in Dr. Burnett’s practice, in 
1876. 
The data furnished by these cases are not sufficient to 108 
M. S. Falls. 
warrant any positive conclusion as to the causative relation 
between pertussis and deafness, or as to the manner in which 
the ear affection is brought about, but the existence of a 
connection between the two seems highly probable. 
Cases i, 3, and 4 would appear to be purely nervous in 
their character, while in case 2 there was a middle-ear 
complication, which, however, probably only served as a 
complication.