Swimmers itch bites skin#

Do not swim near or wade in marshy areas where snails are commonly found.Do not swim in areas where swimmer's itch is a known problem or where signs have been posted warning of unsafe water.To reduce the likelihood of developing swimmer's itch: Swimmer's itch is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another. Also, they are less likely to towel dry themselves when leaving the water. Children are most often affected because they tend to swim, wade, and play in the shallow water more than adults. Larvae are more likely to be present in shallow water by the shoreline. For future snails to become infected, migratory birds or mammals in the area must also be infected so the lifecycle can continue.Īnyone who swims or wades in infested water may be at risk. However, an infected snail will continue to produce cercariae throughout the remainder of its life. Larvae generally survive for 24 hours once they are released from the snail. However, there is no way to know how long water may be unsafe. Since these factors change (sometimes within a swim season), swimmer's itch will not always be a problem. Many factors must be present for swimmer's itch to become a problem in water. Once an outbreak of swimmer's itch has occurred in water, will the water always be unsafe? Because these larvae cannot develop inside a human, they soon die. Although humans are not suitable hosts, the microscopic larvae burrow into the swimmer's skin, and may cause an allergic reaction and rash. This larval form then swims about searching for a suitable host (bird, muskrat) to continue the lifecycle. Infected snails release a different type of microscopic larvae (or cercariae, hence the name cercarial dermatitis) into the water. If the larvae find one of these snails, they infect the snail, multiply and undergo further development. These larvae swim in the water in search of a certain species of aquatic snail. If the eggs land in or are washed into the water, the eggs hatch, releasing small, free-swimming microscopic larvae. The parasites produce eggs that are passed in the feces of infected birds or mammals. The adult parasite lives in the blood of infected animals such as ducks, geese, gulls, swans, and certain mammals such as muskrats and raccoons. Transmission How does water become infested with the parasite? If itching is severe, your health care provider may suggest prescription-strength lotions or creams to lessen your symptoms. Scratching may cause the rash to become infected. Apply baking soda paste to the rash (made by stirring water into baking soda until it reaches a paste-like consistency).Apply cool compresses to the affected areas.If you have a rash, you may try the following for relief: Most cases of swimmer's itch do not require medical attention. The greater the number of exposures to contaminated water, the more intense and immediate symptoms of swimmer's itch will be.īe aware that swimmer's itch is not the only rash that may occur after swimming in fresh or salt water. Itching may last up to a week or more, but will gradually go away.īecause swimmer's itch is caused by an allergic reaction to infection, the more often you swim or wade in contaminated water, the more likely you are to develop more serious symptoms. Scratching the areas may result in secondary bacterial infections. Small reddish pimples appear within 12 hours. Within minutes to days after swimming in contaminated water, you may experience tingling, burning, or itching of the skin.

Swimmers itch bites skin#

Tingling, burning, or itching of the skin.

Swimmer's itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months. While the parasite's preferred host is the specific bird or mammal, if the parasite comes into contact with a swimmer, it burrows into the skin causing an allergic reaction and rash. These parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans). Swimmer’s itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites that infect some birds and mammals.