TOXIC REACTIONS DURING STREPTOMYCINSULFADIAZINE THERAPY OF BRUCELLOSIS

The toxic effect of streptomycin on the eighth cranial nerve has been well known since early in its clinical use. Published opinions indicate that the toxicity of streptomycin to the central nervous system is confined almost entirely to this nerve, predominately to its vestibular branch. 1 Nevertheless, a few isolated instances of other neurologic involvement have been reported. Hunnicutt and co-workers 2 have published a fatal case of toxic encephalopathy apparently caused by streptomycin. Postmortem examination revealed focal areas of rarefaction and necrosis throughout the brain. Finland and co-workers 3 reported a patient in whom severe vertigo, syncope and right-sided clonic convulsive seizures occurred on two occasions during the intravenous injection of streptomycin. In patients with meningitis receiving streptomycin intrathecally, neurologic disorders arising during the course of treatment ordinarily are attributed to the disease, but in some instances it is not unreasonable to suspect that the symptoms may be a