Swimmer’s itch (cercarialdermatitis) is a noncontagious rash triggered by aparasitein water.
It’s common in people who swim or wade in fresh water, such as ponds or lakes.
It’s less common, but still possible, to catch it in ocean water.
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Snails, waterfowl, beavers, and other aquatic birds and animals can become infected with the cercaria parasite.
Cercaria eggs are then passed into the water through feces (poop).
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for swimmer’s itch.
How Long Does It Take to Get Swimmer’s Itch?
The tingling, itching, or burning sensations start first, followed by pimples in about 12 hours.
The pimples may develop into small blisters.
You may be itchy for a week or longer.
The more often you go into contaminated water, the more likely you will develop symptoms quickly.
Repeated exposure may also make the symptoms more intense.
Causes
Anallergic reactionto cercarial larvae causes swimmer’s itch.
The cercarial eggs pass into the water through the feces of infected animals.
After they hatch, the larvae burrow into your skin, creating an itchy rash.
(The ideal host is a duck.)
You may develop the allergy and the rash it leads to after repeated exposure to the cercarial larva.
Swimmer’s Itch in Kids
Children are more likely than adults to develop swimmers itch.
How Do I Know if I Have Swimmers Itch?
Other rashes include:
You cant catch swimmers itch from a swimming pool.
However, you may develop achlorine rash, which is a bang out of irritant dermatitis.
It causes itchy hives.
How Can I Prevent Swimmers Itch?
They may want to post warning signs to protect other people.
How Can I Get Rid of Swimmers Itch?
Most cases of swimmers itch can be treated at home.
Your options for soothing the rash include:
It may also help to take anantihistamine(allergy pill).
When to Get Medical Help for Swimmers Itch
Some cases of swimmers itch do need medical attention.
Its also found in other parts of Canada and in more than 30 other countries.
Prognosis
Your first case of swimmer’s itch may last up to two weeks.
If you avoid infection, it should clear up without complications or lingering symptoms.
However, it’s important to remember swimmer’s itch is because of an allergy.
Each time you get swimmer’s itch, it will likely be more severe than the last.
Be sure to take precautions to prevent future exposure to the parasites.
It’s more common in children than adults.
It causes an itchy, discolored rash that may look like pimples or small blisters.
It’s not contagious.
The rash can be treated with corticosteroid or anti-itch creams and baths with soothing ingredients.
Repeated cases tend to be more severe.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Swimmer’s itch.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Swimmers itch.
DermNet New Zealand Trust.Swimmers itch.
University of Alberta.4 common water rashes and what you could do about them.
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Allergist.Chlorine allergy".
HealthLinkBC, British Colombia.Swimmers itch.
Seattle Childrens Hospital.Swimmers itch - lakes and oceans.
National Capital Poison Center.Identifying, treating and preventing swimmers itch.
