Here's a secret. Many ear infections which are diagnosed aren't ear
infections at all. Some physicians diagnose ear infections when they
see a child with a cold or fever. So much easier to give antibiotics
than to explain that the child has a virus which will get better by
itself. Many physicians, I fear, don't even know how to look properly
at a child's ear drum.
Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC (afraid the sky will fall in by my saying the
above)