A 2-year-old non-Indigenous boy is brought to his GP with a 24-hour history of fever and ear pain. He has had no previous ear disease, is otherwise well and fully immunised. Temperature is 38.3°C, he is eating and drinking, and otoscopy shows a bulging, erythematous left tympanic membrane without otorrhoea. There is no mastoid tenderness and he appears comfortable after a dose of oral paracetamol. Which is the most appropriate management?