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Home :: Family Health :: Swimmer's Itch Swimmer's Itch - Swimmer's Itch symptom, treatment, causes
Swimmer's Itch is a very itchy skin inflammation that may result from swimming in water infested with the larval form (cercariae) of certain species of Schistosoma, a parasitic fluke (flatworm) usually spread by migratory birds and thus seen in many parts of the world, including Australia. Unlike the species that cause SCHISTOSOMIASIS, those that cause swimmers' itch go no further than the skin.
Swimmer's itch is a patchy red pinpoint skin rash associated with itching on the parts of the body that have been in the water. Reddened spots, called papules, form on the body within hours after exposure and with itch intensely for several days before subsiding. After approximately one week, the symptoms usually disappear. In severe cases, a person can develop a fever, become nauseated and spend several sleepless nights suffering from intense itching. Common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, ducks, geese, swans, muskrats and moles have been found to carry the parasite. As part of their developmental life-cycle, these parasites are released from infected snails, migrate through the water, and are capable of penetrating the skin of man. After penetration, these parasites remain in the skin and die but can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The parasite in man does not mature, reproduce or cause any permanent infection.
Swimmer's itch is a skin rash caused by a parasite (shistosomes) which ordinarily infect birds, semi-aquatic mammals, and snails. Immature larval forms (cercariae), of parasitic flatworms (schistosomes), are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water, such as lakes, ponds, and lagoons. Swimmer's itch develops on exposed areas of the skin after contact with these larval forms when they mistakenly penetrate the person's skin (rather than its usual host, a duck). Infection is found throughout the world. Swimmer's itch generally occurs during summer months.
Causes of Swimmer's Itch
The common Causes of Swimmer's Itch :
- Avoid swimming in areas where swimmers' itch is a known problem.
- Rinse exposed skin with fresh water immediately after leaving the water. Then vigorously dry your skin with a towel.
- Avoid swimming near or wading in marshy areas where snails are commonly found.
Symptoms of Swimmer's Itch
Some common Symptoms of Swimmer's Itch :
- Small reddish pimples .
- Tingling, burning, or itching of the skin
- Small blisters
- Fever.
Treatment of Swimmer's Itch
Treatment is by application of medications to ease the itch and, if inflammation is severe, preparations containing corticosteroids. Since the cercariae need about 15 minutes to penetrate the skin. the risk of exposure is reduced by drying the skin immediately after swimming, but it is best to avoid bathing where anyone has previously picked up swimmers' itch.
- Take shallow lukewarm baths with three tablespoons of baking soda in the water.
- Anti-itch creams or ointments, such as those containing calamine lotion
- Take colloidal oatmeal baths.
- Oral antihistamines .
- Apply cool compresses.
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