The incidence of complications from acute otitis media in children, such as mastoiditis, tends to increase. We analyzed 57 case histories of children who had undergone an anthromastoidotomy. The main reasons for treatment failures in acute otitis media include underestimating the vaccination status of the child, lack of antibiotic therapy, prescribing antibiotics in low doses or for a short period of time, using drugs that are not active against pneumococcal infections, and prescribing only topical therapy. Considering these factors can reduce the need for surgery in pediatric patients with this infection.