why children lose their hearing and what we can do 205
If other medicines are not available
• give chloramphenicol by mouth, if possible. If not, by injection in the
muscle or the vein, changing to by mouth as soon as possible.
age less than 2 weeks ������������������������ 6.25 mg per kilo of body weight,
4 times a day. (A 4 kg baby should get
25 mg per dose.)
age 2 weeks to 1 year of age ������������� 12.5 mg per kilo of body weight,
4 times a day. (A 10 kg child should
get 125 mg per dose.)
age 2 years or more �������������������������� 12.5 to 25 mg per kilo of body weight,
4 times a day. (A 10 kg child should
get between 125 mg and 250 mg per
dose.)
Note: Chloramphenicol should be used only for severe, life-threatening
infections such as meningitis. In very severe cases chloramphenicol may be
given as well as benzylpenicillin.
Jaundice
Sometimes a baby becomes yellow soon after birth.
This is a sign of jaundice. If the baby is energetic
and breastfeeding well, a little yellow color
is normal between 2 and 5 days old — the
mother should keep breastfeeding often and
let the baby get plenty of sun. The jaundice
may be more severe if the yellow color starts
from the first day after birth, if it extends to
the hands and feet, or if the baby is unusually
sleepy and sucks poorly. Get medical help.
Severe jaundice can be dangerous, and may also
cause hearing loss.
Hiv/aids
Children with HIV/AIDS have low resistance to infections. Their lower
immunity leads to increased risk of infections such as cytomegalovirus
(CMV), syphilis, tuberculosis (TB), and some types of meningitis. All
these illnesses can damage the ear. See the book HIV, Health, and
Your Community, published by the Hesperian Foundation, for ways to
prevent HIV/AIDS.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)