What is a double ear infection?

耳朵感染通常是由细菌或病毒引起的。当感染的液体在中耳中积聚时，它会形成。当感染发生在两只耳朵中时，称为双耳感染或双侧耳朵感染。

双耳感染被认为比一只耳朵的感染更严重。症状可能更加强烈，建议的治疗通常比单侧（单一）耳部感染更具侵略性。

If your child has a fever, shows signs of an ear infection, and tugs on or rubs both ears, they may have a double ear infection. Responding quickly can usually resolve the problem within a few days.

单侧耳部感染会变成双侧耳朵感染。但是，双耳感染的症状通常同时在两次耳朵中出现。这就是为什么您的孩子可能会抱怨两只耳朵的疼痛。

Apart from more frequent and higher fevers, standard symptoms of a bilateral ear infection are like those of a unilateral ear infection.

症状of a double ear infection can include:

  • 最近的上呼吸道感染
  • fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or greater that lasts for 48 hours or more
  • 耳朵的排水或脓
  • 两只耳朵的拉扯，摩擦或疼痛
  • trouble sleeping
  • irritability and fussiness
  • 对喂养缺乏兴趣
  • 听力困难

这些迹象很重要，尤其是如果您的孩子是婴儿和年轻的孩子，他们无法告诉您是什么困扰他们的。

耳朵感染病毒后通常发展起来per respiratory infection. The infection can cause inflammation and swelling of the Eustachian tubes. These thin tubes run from the ears to behind the nose at the upper part of the throat. They help maintain healthy pressure in the ears.

When the tubes become swollen and blocked, fluid can build up behind the eardrum. Bacteria can grow quickly in this fluid, causing infection and inflammation of the middle ear. Children are more prone to ear infections because their Eustachian tubes are less vertical than those of adults.

In many cases, hearing is affected only temporarily and returns when the infection goes away and the fluid clears. Permanent hearing loss and long-term speech difficulties are the greatest concerns related to serious and ongoing ear infections. Children who get repeated ear infections or who go long periods with untreated ear infections may experience some hearing loss. Hearing loss often impedes speech development.

In more serious cases, the eardrum may be damaged. A torn eardrum may repair itself within a few days. Other times, it may require手术.

Like any infection, a double ear infection can spread to other parts of the body. The part that is most in danger is the mastoid, which is the part of the skull bone behind the ear. Infection of this bone, calledmastoiditis, causes:

  • ear pain
  • 耳朵后面的发红和痛苦
  • fever
  • a sticking out of the ear

这是任何耳朵感染的危险并发症。它可能会引起严重的影响，例如：

  • injury to the skull bone
  • more serious infections
  • 大脑和循环系统的严重并发症
  • permanent hearing loss

If you suspect a double ear infection, seek medical attention right away. The pain and discomfort of a double ear infection can be worse than having a single ear infection. You should also seek immediate medical attention if your child appears to have severe pain or if they have pus or discharge from one or both ears.

If your baby is 6 months or younger, call their pediatrician as soon as you notice symptoms of an ear infection.

In older children, see a doctor if symptoms last for a day or two without improvement. This is especially true if your child has a fever.

The doctor will review your child’s medical history and symptoms. Then, they’ll use an otoscope to look inside both ears. An otoscope is a lighted device with a magnifying lens that allows the doctor to take a closer look at the inside of the ear. An eardrum that is red, swollen, and bulging indicates an ear infection.

医生还可能使用称为气镜的类似设备。它向耳膜散发出一大堆空气。如果没有液体在耳膜后面，则耳膜的表面会在空气撞击时轻松地向后移动。但是，耳膜后面的液体积聚使耳膜很难移动。

根据儿童的年龄，轻度单侧耳朵感染可能会消失。但是，双耳感染更加严重。如果是由病毒引起的，那么没有药物可以提供帮助。取而代之的是，您必须让感染运行。如果是细菌感染，则通常需要抗生素。

用于耳朵感染的幼儿使用的常见抗生素是阿莫西林。抗生素通常应服用一周或更长时间。重要的是要完全按照处方来治愈感染，这一点很重要。在随访期间，您的医生可以看耳朵内部。他们将确定感染是否已清除。

为了缓解疼痛，您的医生可能会推荐对乙酰氨基酚（泰诺）或布洛芬（Advil，Motrin）。但是，不建议对6个月以下的儿童进行布洛芬。药耳滴也可能会有所帮助。

对于复发性双耳或单耳感染的儿童，很小ear tubescan be placed in the ear to help improve drainage. A child with improperly formed or immature Eustachian tubes may require ear tubes for several months or longer to decrease ear infections.

With proper treatment, your child’s infection should heal. A double ear infection may begin to clear up within a few days of beginning treatment. Still, your child should take the full course of antibiotics, which may be a week or 10 days.

另外，如果您的孩子的感染愈合的速度比预期的要慢，请不要感到震惊。双耳感染要比单一耳朵感染需要更长的时间。在这段时间里，由于两只耳朵的疼痛，您的孩子可能更困难。

总体而言，几乎不可能防止您的孩子早年感染耳部感染。注意孩子的症状，以便您可以识别可能的耳朵感染并寻求适当的治疗。

双侧耳朵感染不如单口感染普遍，尽管如果您未经治疗的单侧感染留下，则可能会在另一只耳朵中出现问题。因此，防止双耳感染包括当感染在一只耳朵中发育时快速治疗。

Studies 发现长时间的就寝时间或用瓶子喂食可能：

  • aggravate a child’s respiratory system
  • 增加耳朵感染，鼻窦感染和咳嗽
  • increase acid reflux from the stomach

Instead, allow your child to finish feeding before putting them down to sleep.