Antibiotics have side effects, eg vomiting, diarrhoea and skin rash. Treating with antibiotics cuts down the risk of more serious spread of infection. To cure one child with an antibiotic the doctor needs to treat seven. That is, six out of seven do not need or do not respond to an antibiotic. All seven have to be treated, as it is impossible to tell which child will respond at the outset.
Further attacks are just as likely to happen even after antibiotics.
Using an antibiotic makes it less likely that an an infection will develop in the other ear. 17 children need to be treated before one infection in the other ear is prevented. There is no evidence that using an antibiotic makes a child less likely to be deaf a month or three months after an infection. Note that the content above is for information only and can not be a substitute for a personal consultation with a qualified medical professional. Please see the disclaimer for details.