The purpose of this study is to determine if a commercially available homeopathic ear drop preparation is effective in reducing symptoms in children 6 months - 11 years old with acute otitis media in whom the health care provider has recommended that antibiotics not be immediately administered. A total of 150 study patients with otitis media will be randomized to receive homeopathic ear drops, or no ear drops, in addition to receiving standard care. It is postulated that children using the ear drops will have more rapid resolution of symptoms and need fewer antibiotics than those randomized to not receive the ear drops.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 6 months - 11 years old
• Diagnosed with otitis media by clinician at participating clinic
• Clinician determines that a "watch and wait" antibiotic prescription treatment plan is optimal management

Exclusion Criteria:

• Antibiotic treatment during past 7 days
• Homeopathic treatment within past 30 days
• History of serious chronic illness (e.g. diabetes, autoimmune disease, cystic fibrosis
• Perforated tympanic membrane
• Immediate antibiotic treatment plan decided by examining clinician

Children 6 months - 11 years old diagnosed with acute otitis media and managed with a delayed antibiotic treatment approach

Adverse data were not collected on 4 children including 1 randomized to the ear drop group and 3 receiving standard therapy alone.

Initially planned sample size --150. Study size was increased after analysis of initial data found a non-significant trend between antibiotic fill rates in the homeopathic ear drop and standard therapy treatment groups.