The term ototoxicity is used to describe damage to cochlea and/or vestibular system which results in permanent (sometimes reversible) hearing loss and/or disequilibrium. The various drug groups that have been implicated in the ototoxicity include (but are not limited to) the following: Aminoglycosides Macrolides NSAIDs Salicylates Antimalarials Anti-neoplastic drugs Topical antibiotic solutions The determinants of ototoxic effects of a drug in an individual have been reported as personal and familial susceptibility, age (particularly extremes of age), daily dose, total dose, and route of administration of a drug.
In case of exposure to a physical and chemical agent, it is the duration of exposure. Amongst the routes of administration, the order of risk associated is reported to be maximum with intraspinal, followed by intravenous, intramuscular, and then percutaneous (in…
