Most ear infections go away without treatment. “If your child isn’t in severe pain, your doctor may suggest a ‘wait-and-see’ approach coupled with over-the-counter pain relievers to see if the infection clears on its own,”
The reason: Treating an infection with antibiotics may cause the bacteria causing the infections to become resistant to those antibiotics—and that makes treating future infections more difficult. Equally important, in most cases antibiotics aren’t necessary. Otitis media tends to get better without them. While you may be tempted to treat your child’s ear infection with homeopathic or natural medicine, Tunkel warns they aren’t well studied.
Your best bet is to work with your child’s health care provider to determine the appropriate course of action. In nearly every case, treatment decisions depend on the child’s age, degree of pain and presenting symptoms.
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