[Vestibular dysfunction and deafness complicating mumps parotitis].

A 9-year-old boy developed severe positional vertigo, unsteadiness, vomiting and nystagmus during active mumps parotitis. Audiometric examination showed complete right sensorineural hearing loss. Brain stem evoked response to audiometric stimulation of the left ear was normal, but was absent on stimulation of the right ear. CT scan of the brain was normal. While vestibular symptoms gradually improved during 1 week, the deafness on the right was permanent. Acute vestibulitis during mumps is very rare, but permanent unilateral deafness might be a much more common, severe, persistent complication than is generally believed. Such cases call for an urgent change in Israel's vaccination policy so that vaccination against mumps is included.