Swimmers itch bites skin#

use any over the counter anti-itch creams,” said Hanington. “We tend to tell people the best thing to do. Patrick Hanington, assistant professor with the School of Public Health, who has studied parasitic immunology and swimmer’s itch both in Alberta and around the world since 2008, says swimmers itch is not a great medical concern and it is fairly easy to treat the itching sensation. It looks like a rash or gathering of mosquito bites, pimples or blisters on the skin. Swimmers itch is caused by an allergic reaction people have to the parasite. Other ways to reduce your risk when swimming in potentially infested waters include applying waterproof sunscreen before swimming and rinsing off and toweling dry afterwards, according to the CDC.With summer days stretching out before Albertans for another month the plethora of lakes and beaches continue to beckon, swimmers need to remain aware of a parasite that causes swimmers itch is also taking advantage of the water. The snails host the parasites as they multiply and develop, but eventually they excrete another form of larvae that can cause an allergic reaction in humans. Wading in marshy areas along the shoreline could further increase your risk as you creep into snail breeding grounds. The eggs then hatch tiny larvae that immediately seek a new host: a specific type of aquatic snail. The parasite thrives in their bloodstreams and releases its eggs in their feces. Humans are not meant to come into contact with the parasite, which infects birds and mammals that live near the water. The parasite that causes swimmer's itch is more likely to be present in warm, shallow water, so children are more likely to be infected compared with adults. While the possibility of swimmer's itch shouldn't keep you from exploring natural bodies of water this summer, there are a few steps you can take to reduce your risk.Īvoid swimming spots that are known to be contaminated with any type of parasite, as some water-dwelling organisms can cause infections far more dangerous than swimmer's itch. Use corticosteroid cream (available over-the-counter).Īpply cool compresses to the affected areas. The CDC recommends using anti-itch creams or home remedies to relieve the itch, including the following tips: Scratching at the rash, however itchy it may be, increases the risk that the area will become infected with a more dangerous bacteria. The clinic recommends seeking medical care if the bumps linger for more than a few days or develop pus. If left alone to heal, the rash will clear up within a week, according to Mayo Clinic. arms and legs) is most commonly affected.

Swimmers itch bites skin#

Exposed skin not covered by a swimsuit (ie. The welts might look like bug bites, except they show up en masse minutes or days after a swim in untreated water. Symptoms of swimmer's itch may include tingling, burning, or itchy skin with small red bumps or blisters, according to the CDC. Swimmer's itch is uncomfortable but mostly harmless

If you do contract swimmer's itch, most cases can be resolved with home remedies, like over-the-counter corticosteroid cream or Epsom salt baths. Many local health departments manage reports of swimmer's itch by posting signs around bodies of water where people have contracted it. To prevent swimmer's itch, avoid swimming in warm, marshy waters where ducks and other waterfowl could be infected with the parasite. The more you swim in contaminated waters, the more intense and immediate the rash will be. But with repeated exposures, the immune system learns to recognize and respond to the threat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The parasite doesn't affect humans in the long term, as the larvae die shortly after entering the body. If the parasite larvae gets under your skin, it can cause an itchy but otherwise benign rash. Cases of swimmer's itch occur every year, usually in early summer when the water is warmest. The rash, which can appear as small red bumps on the skin, is caused by microscopic parasites that reproduce in lakes, ponds, and oceans.