Please help! what happens if you don't treat an ear infection with antibiotics?

Comfort measures: Some viral ear infections self heal in 2-4 day. Bacterial infections tend to persist and may lead to real complications. Infants need an early eval.If older if not better after 3-4 days, an evaluation and treatment is advised.Prior to antibiotics, hearing loss due to chronic middle ear disease was not uncommon and a significant complication called mastoiditis requires surgical drainage.