![]() ![]() So is the can't-stop-scratching feeling that can last for days or even weeks. Some people show no signs of swimmer's itch.īut for those unlucky souls who do, the symptoms can be quite annoying - though ultimately harmless. Not everyone who comes in contact with the parasite reacts. But the itching is already underway, spurred by the body's immune system. People aren't suitable hosts, and the parasite soon dies. This is when they often come across a human and burrow into the skin. They live inside the snail until it releases them back into the water, where they seek yet another host. The eggs then hatch and the parasites swim around in search of a snail, a second host. The worms lay eggs inside the host animal and the animal excretes the eggs into the lake water. The worm begins in the intestinal lining of water animals such as ducks, geese, beaver and muskrat, according to the Minnesota DNR. The critter responsible for causing the annoying temporary rash is a flatworm with a complex life cycle. “These parasites grab onto people,” said the DNR’s Shane McBride. ![]() Other public swimming areas affected by the early outbreak include Coon Lake in Anoka County and Lakeside Beach in Forest Lake, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported.Ī close-up look at the culprit, schistosomal cercariae. The district recently reopened a swimming beach at French Regional Park after treating the water for the second time this season because of reports of swimmer's itch. "With the ice going off the lakes earlier this year, everything seems to be ahead of schedule," said Brian Vlach, water resources supervisor for the Three Rivers Park District. The warmer water temperatures jump-started the growing season for lake vegetation - food sources for the parasites and their hosts, namely ducks, geese and snails. Swimmer's itch - also known as "duck itch" or "lake itch" - is plaguing lake-goers earlier than usual this year thanks to an early spring. Microscopic parasites lurking in lake water are out in full force now, capable of causing a skin rash that's itchy, scratchy and just plain ugly. Shower or dry yourself off with a towel as soon as you get out of a lake or pond.You can't see them when you step out of the water after a swim, but boy, can you feel them later.Don't go near lakes or ponds that are known to have outbreaks of swimmer's itch.To lower your chance of getting swimmer's itch: Or you can try an oatmeal bath product, such as Aveeno. Add a handful of oatmeal (ground to a powder) to your bath.Use anti-itch creams that you can buy without a prescription in a grocery store or drugstore. ![]() Put cool wet cloths (compresses) on your skin.In most cases, swimmer's itch goes away on its own, so you don't need to see a doctor. How is it diagnosed?Ī doctor can diagnose swimmer's itch by looking at your skin and asking if you've been swimming in ponds or lakes. How severe the rash is may vary for people exposed to the same parasites. Bumps on your skin that show up minutes or even days after you were in the water.An itching or burning feeling on your skin.A rash that usually goes away in about a week.The rash can't be spread from person to person. As a result, the rash usually goes away on its own and doesn't need treatment. This causes an allergic reaction and a rash.īut the larvae can't survive in humans, so the parasites die. If they come in contact with people, the parasites can burrow under the skin. The snails in turn release the larvae into the water, where the larvae look for a host. The eggs hatch into larvae, which then infect snails. Bird and mammal droppings that contain the eggs get into lakes and ponds. The tiny parasites infect birds or mammals and lay eggs. But you can't get swimmer's itch from swimming pools that are treated with chlorine. The parasites can get under your skin when you swim in freshwater (such as lakes and ponds) and sometimes salt water. Swimmer's itch is a rash caused by an allergic reaction to the larvae of certain parasites. Conditions Basics What is swimmer's itch? ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |