CDC: Swimmer's ear cost $500M a year

ATLANTA, May 19 (UPI) -- Swimmer's ear results in 2.4 million U.S. doctor's visits and costs about $500 million annually, federal health officials say.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta say swimmer's ear can develop when water stays in the ear canal for a long time, allowing germs to grow and infect the skin.

Germs found in pools and at other recreational water venues are among the most common causes of swimmer's ear, but most cases can be easily treated with prescription anti-microbial ear drops, the CDC says.

"In 2007, 1 in 123 Americans went to the doctor for swimmer's ear -- more than half of the reported infections occurred in adults age 20 and older," the report says.

The CDC estimated the average cost per case of $200 for patients who didn't need hospitalization.

"Most people think of swimmer's ear as a mild condition that quickly goes away, but this common infection is responsible for millions of illnesses and substantial medical costs each year," Michael Beach, CDC's associate director for healthy water, says in a statement. "By taking simple steps before and after swimming or coming in contact with water, people can greatly reduce their risk of this painful infection."

The findings are published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.