Chair of the AAP Section on Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Executive Committee points out the study’s limitations, including a small sample size and that nearly half of the patients in the antibiotic group went on to receive tubes.

Acute otitis media (AOM) affects about 25% of children in the first year of life and at least 60% of children by 5 years of age.

Researchers compared five AOM treatments using a hypothetical cohort of children and data from previous studies and their own estimates.

Watchful waiting involves observing children with uncomplicated AOM for 48 to 72 hours to allow for spontaneous recovery without antibiotics.

Researchers found chronic illness was associated with increased vulnerability in social, emotional, language, cognitive and physical domains.