Usually the reddened areas reach their largest size after approximately 24 hours. Many suffering from swimmer’s itch experience the most severe itching early in the morning. Symptoms include intermittent periods of itching that will continue for several days. At each point of entry a small red spot may appear and begin to itch. This may occur either while swimming or immediately after leaving the water. Those who are sensitive may feel a dull, prickly sensation as the larvae burrow into the skin. Some who are exposed to the larvae never develop the itch. Not all people are sensitive to swimmer’s itch. Each flatworm often uses just one species of snail and one kind of waterfowl as intermediate and definitive hosts to complete its life cycle. Both must be present in the same lake for the life cycle to be completed. The life cycle of the flatworm involves two very specific hosts. In the United States, the problem appears to be concentrated in the most northern tier of states. In North America, at least 30 states and parts of Canada have documented the skin condition. The life cycle and host requirements of those species responsible for swimmer’s itch differ widely, and the natural history of most is poorly understood. However, not all larval species cause swimmer’s itch. Many species of parasitic flatworms are naturally occurring in most lakes. The itching sensation is caused by an immune response to the dead larvae under the skin and responses vary by person. Since humans are not the proper host, the larvae soon die upon burrowing into the skin. The larvae, known as cercariae, are only 1/32 of an inch long and generally invisible to the naked eye. The skin condition occurs when larvae mistakenly burrow into human skin. Upon hatching, free swimming Schistosomatidae larvae seek out an intermediary host, usually snails, to continue the life cycle. Schistosome flatworms are parasites with a complex life cycle usually involving certain species of snails and waterfowl. Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) is a skin irritation caused by a larval form of certain flatworms from the family Schistosomatidae. "It's something that's natural and it happens, so it definitely shouldn't deter you from enjoying a nice summer.What you should know about Swimmer’s Itch What is it? "It's just a reminder that the lake is not a city pool, so this is just one of those things that you have to deal with," he said. He added that lake-goers and lakeshore property owners should avoid feeding ducks, which also carry the parasites throughout the lake. If lake-goers choose to dive in anyway, Olson said that they should rinse off and dry off with a towel immediately after exiting the lake. Now that you know it's here, I would give it at least a week before heading out." "Not everyone is sensitive to swimmer's itch but, if it's really something that bothers you, wait it out. "Depending on how many of the little parasites are out there, it could take a week or so for this to work its way out of the system," he explained. Olson said that, after the first large bout of swimmer's itch hits the lakes, the remainder of the summer should be fairly safe. Those affected by swimmer's itch are encouraged to avoid scratching the blemishes.ĭon't let the fear of swimmer's itch put a damper on the summer, though. Small reddish pimples appear within 12 hours of exposure and, while some of the pimples may develop into small blisters, symptoms typically go away on their own within three to seven days.Īccording to the Mayo Clinic, the uncomfortable symptoms of swimmer's itch can be relieved by over-the-counter antihistamines or anti-itch creams that contain calamine. Symptoms of swimmer's itch include burning, tingling and itching of the infected skin. Your body's immune system detects it as a foreign protein, then attacks and kills it shortly after it penetrates your skin." "The good news is the organism that causes swimmer's itch cannot complete its life history in the human body. "As a part of their life cycle, these parasites are released by infected snails into the water, where they may come in contact with people and burrow into their skin," the Minnesota DNR website explains.
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