Timothy C Jenkins, Adam L. Hersh, Joshua Epstein, Rashmi Narayan, Alice Eggleston, Holly M. Frost, for the DISAPEAR Study Group, Andersen Leisha, Gilbert Aiden, Hasan Aylin, Jensen Hannah, Keith Amy, Milanes Mirta, Morin Theresa, O’Leary Sonja, Nelson Barbora, Patel Payal, Rinehart Deborah, M Seibert Allan, Stanfield Valoree, Willis Park
Among 140 579 pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) visits, watchful waiting was used in 15.6% of cases and was associated with similarly low rates of treatment failure and adverse events as immediate antibiotics. Scale up of watchful waiting may be an important approach to reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure for AOM.