What are the best treatment for infections(otitis media)

Condition analysis:
Ear infections, also called otitis media, are a common problem in children. About 50 percent of infants have at least one ear infection by their first birthday. Ear infections can cause pain in the ear, fever, and temporary hearing loss and general signs such as loss of appetite and irritability. Some children get better without specific antibiotic treatment but most young infants benefit from use of an antimicrobial agent.

Instructions:
EAR INFECTION TREATMENT
__ Antibiotics
__ Medicines to treat pain and fever
__ Observation
__ A combination of the above

The "best" treatment depends on the child's age, history of previous infections, degree of illness, and any underlying medical problems.

Antibiotics - Antibiotics are routinely given to infants who are younger than 24 months or who have high fever or infection in both ears. Children who are older than 24 months and have mild symptoms may be treated with an antibiotic or often are observed to see if they improve without antibiotics. (See 'Observation' below.)

Antibiotics can have side effects such as diarrhea and rash, and overusing antibiotics can lead to more difficult to treat (resistant) bacteria. Resistance means that a particular antibiotic no longer works or that higher doses are needed next time.

Observation - In some cases, your child's doctor or nurse will recommend that you watch your child at home before starting antibiotics; this is called observation. Observation can help to determine whether antibiotics are needed.