Swimmer’s ear treatment painfully expensive for Americans

Swimmer's ear afflicts mostly children but is often dismissed as more of an annoyance to parents rather than a costly disease, even though swimmer's ear treatment is common in doctor's offices.

But a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proves just how costly swimmer's ear really is: $500 million from 2.4 million visits to the physician's office for 2007 alone.

The CDC reports said that 8.1 out of 1,000 doctor's visits were because of earaches due to swimmer's ear, also called otitis externa. Most patients are between five and nine years old and those between ages 10 to 14.

But swimmer's ear is hardly a condition seen in children. CDC data reveals that 53 percent of those who sought swimmer's ear treatment from 2003 to 2007 were older than 20.

Among U.S. regions, the South, Midwest and the Northeast accounted for the most patients who underwent swimmer's ear treatment between 2003 and 2007.

Swimmer's ear is so-called because it is more likely experienced by swimmers especially in a humid climate. Health experts have noted that the condition persists or worsens if the ear is submerged underwater repeatedly.

CDC officials recommend using ear plugs or bathing caps when swimming. Drain the water that has come inside the ears after you are done swimming.

A simple swimmer's ear treatment you can do at home with care is to use a hair dryer to blow some air into the ear canal. Avoid swimming in polluted water and make sure the pool or hot tub you are using has been disinfected.

Consult your doctor if you have drainage from your ears or if they become itchy, flaky or swollen, so that the appropriate topical medications can be administered by the physician. Antibiotics and steroids are the usual agents used in swimmer's ear treatment.