16mo possible ear infection - antibiotics?

[Yazi23]

16mo has been so cranky for about three days now. Wobbly on his feet, head to one side more than usual, clingy, a bit off his food. No temperature and although there's some earwax visible if you look inside, it's not coming out his ear. Generally a healthy boy, only been to the docs once before with him.
Took him to the GP who had such an attitude. I absolutely hate going to the docs and do anything to avoid it so I'm definitely not a time waster. Anyway that's another post. She said possible ear infection but she can't be sure. Might just be a cold or similar (although he's not been coughing/stuffy etc). She's prescribed anti biotics but I feel a bit uncomfortable giving them when she's not 100% sure of a diagnosis?
I would probably try and manage it with calpol but we are flying to the Canaries on Thursday morning and don't want him in any unnecessary discomfort.
I'm inclined to follow GPs orders as I'm not a doctor and she knows better, but she was so blasé about it and I hate taking antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. This will be his first dose of them. Thoughts?

She should have been able to say definite yes or no from looking in his ear- why didn’t she? I would see another gp.

If there’s no temp unlikely to be infection? Maybe it’s just ear wax build up or teething?

If it IS an ear infection I hope you have travel insurance. You can't fly with one I believe.
A GP prescribed it. I would have asked for a second opinion if I wasn't happy but I wouldn't not give my child antibiotics for no good reason.

Did you tell the doctor you were flying in two days? An ear infection can be very painful or even perforate the eardrum when flying.

She said there was a small amount of redness in his ear but not enough to confirm an ear infection.
I told her we were flying and said I didn't want to fly if it would cause him a lot of discomfort but she shrugged it off and said he should be fine. All very unsatisfactory if you ask me.
We have an appointment with a different doctor at 10am this morning so hopefully they will be able to shed some more light on things.
Yes we have an annual travel insurance policy.

You can't tell from looking at an eardrum if the redness is bacterial and will respond to antibiotics or viral and won't.
Most are viral be honest.
Perhaps that was what she meant.

When my DC had an ear infection, GP said ABs not needed unless eardrum perforates...the build up to this is always miserable for all and it always seems to perforate in the middle of the night.
GP gave me the script for ABs to collect from pharmacy in powder form, I could then make it up in the middle of the night if needed...think I did this once