That one is acute otitis media, which causes pain, fever, inflammation, and pus that's often visible behind the eardrum. The other, otitis media with effusion, often follows the acute form, even after antibiotics, and can last for months. While there's also fluid behind the eardrum in this condition, the fluid is clear and there's usually no pain. Antibiotics aren't usually needed. One solution to that, the CDC says, is for doctors to write a note to the child's day-care center explaining why antibiotics are not needed.
People often confuse colds and flu, but the symptoms are different.
With flu, there's usually a fever, a prominent headache, and exhaustion. If you're not sure what you have, see your doctor, and ask to be tested. There are now more than a half-dozen rapid diagnostic tests for flu, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. If you do have the flu, two drugs, amantadine and rimantadine, can reduce symptoms. Otherwise, the human species would not have survived, even before the advent of antibiotics,'' says Metson of Mass. Eye and Ear.