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. Swimmer’s itch is caused by the trematode parasites of which there are many different varieties. Because the rash is itchy you should try not to scratch the area(s) because it could cause the rash to become infected. Each raised area is the site of the parasite penetrating your skin. It is a rash that is uncomfortable but not serious. Normally the rash will go away on its own after a few days but there are some cases where it will last for seven days. You may also have tingling feelings and usually this rash causes you to feel itchy. The symptoms of swimmer’s itch will usually worsen with each exposure to these parasites.
#Swimmers itch parasites skin#
Normally the rash will only appear on skin that is not covered by waders, swimsuits, or wet suits. The rash can appear within minutes after getting in the infested water or days after you have waded or swam in this water. This rash looks like reddish blisters or pimples. SymptomsĪs mentioned with swimmer’s itch you have a rash. Swimmer’s itch is not contagious so you cannot catch it from another person. It was first described in 1928 in Michigan. There have been cases of swimmer’s itch around the world. The reason is that they like to play in shallow water and most of them do not dry off with a towel and instead let the sun dry them. Anyone regardless of age, gender, or race can get swimmer’s itch but it seems children are at a higher risk for getting swimmer’s itch.
Humans do not make suitable hosts for this parasite and die soon when they are still in your skin. The parasite that is associated with this skin condition will normally live in waterfowl along with some of the animals that live near the water. When you get swimmer’s itch it is from an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites that have burrowed into your skin. Occasionally you can get it from salt water. You can get swimmer’s itch from freshwater ponds and lakes. It is also known as cercarial dermatitis, clam diggers itch, and duck itch. Picture of the rash from the Mayo Clinic (offsite).It is a skin condition in which you have an itchy rash after you go swimming or wading. Some other web sites with information about swimmer's itch are listed below.įact sheet on swimmers itch from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cercariae are weak swimmers and are blown about by the wind.
If cercariae are on the skin they will try to penetrate the moment you emerge from the water.
#Swimmers itch parasites free#
The eggs hatch and free swimming animals called miracidia are released into the lake water.The eggs are deposited on the bottom of the lake through droppings.The adult worms are parasites in the blood of aquatic birds and mammals.Itching can be mild to severe and can last several days.ĭucks are the most common host of the worm but other birds and mammals that spend their life in or around the water may also be a host. Small red dots appear at the site of penetration. As penetration occurs a prickly, or itching sensation occurs followed by gereral inflammation of the affected area. Cercariae penetrate the skin of bathers as water droplets dry. Swimmers itch (Schistosome dermatitis) is a temporary skin infection acquired by bathers in some lakes when they accidentally become involved in the life cycle of the trematode worm.
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