Treatment for an ear infection in a baby will depend on the type and severity. Doctors may prescribe antibiotic ear drops for some infections, such as acute otitis externa (AOE), but in many cases, the baby’s immune system will fight the infection on its own. Other infections, such as otitis media with effusion (OME), will usually clear up on their own without any antibiotics.

As OME and mild AOE do not usually require treatment, doctors tend to recommend a period of “watchful waiting” before prescribing antibiotics. This is because antibiotics can cause side effects.

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