3/15/2023 0 Comments Swimmers itch parasites![]() “Stick to pools or clean bodies of water and you and your loved ones will be safe from the pesky swimmer’s itch. “These last weeks of summer should be filled with fun and not a trip to the walk-in clinic,” said Zamora. There are well over 20 different species of parasites that cause swimmer’s itch. Should you develop swimmer’s itch with a fever, rapidly spreading rash, severe itching despite the use of steroid creams, or persistent symptoms lasting longer than two weeks, medical attention is necessary. To help prevent the parasites from entering the skin, Zamora recommends adults and children thoroughly dry off with a clean towel and if possible rinse off after swimming. “The more exposures you experience, the quicker the onset of its symptoms.” The parasite prefers a host such as a bird or mammal, but humans are their next best thing however, the parasite is not able to survive in the human body, so it then dies. “Because swimmer’s itch is an allergic reaction to the parasite, itching and a rash may be more severe with repetitive infections,” she explained. Zamora, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, stresses the best course of action after you develop an infection is to not revisit that particular body of water. Allergy medicines are helpful to reduce incessant itching. Treatment for swimmer’s itch can be as simple as over-the-counter steroid creams or a paste made from baking soda and water. These parasites will usually infect snails, some mammals like beavers, or birds and it is an accident that they attach themselves to a human. The ones that cause swimmer’s itch are of the Gigantobilharzia or Trichobilharzia genus. These effects last for approximately one week and gradually fade. Swimmer’s itch is caused by the trematode parasites of which there are many different varieties. A rash will develop on the exposed areas, followed by itching, burning, and the appearance of small red spots. Symptoms from an infection can arise within a few hours after being exposed. “It’s best to avoid bodies of water that appear cloudy or have a thin layer of film on top.” Zamora, MD, family medicine expert with UT Physicians. ![]() “Shallow or marshy waters have the highest risk of carrying parasites,” shared Elena N. The parasites are less likely to be found in salt water and cannot live in a properly chlorinated pool. “We want our visitors to be aware of this nuisance so they can avoid it and enjoy their time at New Hogan Lake.Typically, swimmer’s itch is contracted after spending time in freshwater lakes and ponds. “With two reports of this rash coming to us today and recreation season ramping up, we are posting warning signs to alert our visitors,” said Dan Benedetti, acting parking manager at New Hogan Lake. Visitors to New Hogan are encouraged to avoid swimming in areas where warning signs are posted, towel dry and shower immediately after swimming and avoid feeding birds, which contribute to the incidence of swimmer’s itch. ![]() Swimmer's itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months,” the CDC notes.ĬDC guidance states that symptoms of swimmer's itch may include tingling, burning, or itching of the skin small reddish pimples and small blisters.Ĭhildren are most often affected because they tend to swim, wade and play in the shallow water more than adults. Swimmers itch occurs when the cercariae of schistosomes that normally develop in aquatic birds penetrate the skin of a human swimmer instead. Schistosomes spend their life cycle as parasites in the bodies of water snails and in the blood stream of aquatic mammals, ducks or other waterfowl. “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. Swimmers itch is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to small worm-like parasites called schistosomes (shiss-toe-soams). “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,” according to the Centers for Disease Control website at. New Hogan staff have consulted with the Calaveras County Environmental Health Department, which advises visitors to heed the following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. (June 3, 2013) – Warning signs are being posted at New Hogan Lake with a seasonal recurrence of swimmer’s itch reported by two visitors to the lake today. ![]()
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