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often known as [Otitis Media] (which is specifically a middle ear infection)

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This notes There are different forms of otitis media. Typically, when the doctor refers to an ear infection, he or she is most likely talking about "acute otitis media"... Acute otitis media is the presence of fluid, typically pus, in the middle ear with symptoms of pain, redness of the eardrum, and possible fever. Other forms of otitis media are either more ChronIc in nature (meaning that there's fluid in the middle ear for 6 or more weeks) or there's fluid in the middle ear that's temporary and isn't necessarily infected (this is called otitis media with effusion). The reason that doctors try to distinguish between the different forms of otitis is because it affects treatment options. Not all forms of otitis need to be treated with antibiotics... The fact that most ear infections can clear on their own has led a number of physician associations to recommend a "wait-and-see" approach, which involves giving the child pain relief without antibiotics for a few days.

Also note that Anti Biotic resistance occurs most frequently in patients with recently treated acute otitis media, children who attend [DayCare] facilities and children younger than two years of age... At present, we do not have clinical criteria for distinguishing which children are in need of antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media.

The [AAFP] says The best treatment is to let the fluid go away by itself... If the fluid is still there after a few months and is causing hearing loss or problems in both ears, antibiotics may help some children... Giving your child unnecessary [Anti Biot]-ics can be harmful. After each course of antibiotics, the germs in the nose and throat are more likely to become resistant. Resistant germs can't be killed by the usual antibiotics.

It's not infectious (though the cold associated with it is, of course)

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