What Is a Double Ear Infection & How Is It Treated?

Posted on by Advanced ENT & Allergy

A double ear infection, otherwise known as bilateral acute otitis media (BAOM), describes when you have an infection in both ears simultaneously. It’s usually the case that the infection starts on one side and then develops on the other side shortly after. Below we review everything you need to know about double ear infections.

Symptoms of a Double Ear Infection

ENT doctor checking ear with otoscope of woman patient at hospital. Physician examining ear of female patient with an instrument.

Symptoms of a double ear infection are typically worse than for an ear infection that occurs in one ear, which is referred to as unilateral acute otitis media (UAOM). In fact, according to one study published in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, “The clinical picture of BAOM is frequently more severe than that of UAOM, but overlap of clinical symptoms is common.”

Symptoms include:

  • Drainage and pus from the ears
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Hearing loss
  • Irritability
  • Ear pain
  • Fever
  • Nasal congestion
  • Cough or hoarse voice
  • Rhinitis
  • Poor appetite
  • Bulging of the eardrums

Ear infections are especially common in young children; even if your child can’t tell you they’re feeling these symptoms, a good sign they have an ear infection is that they’re tugging on their ears.

Causes of a Double Ear Infection

Ear infections, whether bilateral or unilateral, are often the result of another type of infection, like an upper respiratory infection that affects the nose, throat and airways. If you have a double ear infection, it may mean you had UAOM but did not seek treatment quickly enough.

Treating a Double Ear Infection

If you suspect you have an ear infection, you should see a doctor right away. They may recommend any of the following treatments:

Home Remedies

Your doctor may suggest a wait-and-see approach, in which case symptoms can be managed at home by applying a warm compress over the ears and taking over-the-counter pain medications from Laurel Pharmacy.

Antibiotics

If your infection doesn’t clear up after a couple days, antibiotics may be necessary, as it may be due to bacteria growing in the middle ears. The antibiotic may be in eardrop form or oral medication form. Most ear infections are treated with amoxicillin.

Ear Tubes

For young children with chronic or persistent double ear infections, ear tubes may be placed surgically. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Advanced ENT & Allergy today.