THIs is the question you NEED to ask when you child is being seen for Ear Pain.. “Is the Ear Drum bulging?” The findings of Bulging and fluid behind the eardrum are more often associated with a bacterial ear infection than simply “Redness” of the ear drum alone. If your child’s eardrum is red , without fluid and /bulging, it is often better to hold off on using antibiotics and treat the pain first. Waiting 48 hrs to see if symptoms improve or worsen is a safe and evidence based way to avoid unne