|
|
 |
 |
| |
 |
|
Swimmer's Itch
is an itchy rash that
can occur after you go
swimming. Also know as
cercarial dermatitis,
swimmer's itch is most
common in freshwater
lakes and ponds.
Swimmer's itch is an
allergic reaction to
microscopic parasites
that burrow into your
skin.
Although
uncomfortable, swimmer's
itch is usually
short-lived. The rash
typically clears up on
its own in a few days. A
rash will appear within
12 hours after
infection. The infection
may last from 2 to 5
days and symptoms can
last as long as 2 weeks.
Repeat infections are
usually worse because
people become more
sensitive to the larvae
and develop stronger
allergic responses each
time.
Swimmer'
itch is not spread from
person to person. |
|
| |
| |
|
How To Reduce The Odds
of Getting Swimmer's Itch |
| See
more info about Swimmer's Itch on
the MN DNR website. |
| |
|
|
|
| The
cercariae only
live for a day
or so, and
typically swim
around the upper
few inches of
lake water. This
increases their
chances of
coming into
contact with
waterfowl. Once
the cercariae is
on the duck, it
easily moves
around the lake
as a parasite,
and ultimately
along the
shoreline. |
|
|
| There are
actions you can
take to help
reduce your odds
of getting
swimmer's itch. |
|
|
|
1-Keep
waterfowl away
from your dock
or shoreline.
Do not
feed ducks and
geese from your
dock. Try
putting an owl
wind sock or
statue on your
dock - and move
it around
occasionally so
the waterfowl
does not become
accustomed to
it. |
|
|
|
|
2-Stay out of
the water by the
shore.
Swimmer's itch
organism may
originate
somewhere else
in the lake but
are brought to
the shoreline by
wave action or
currents. You
may want to
consider
swimming from a
raft or boat
farther out from
shore where you
are less likely
to come into
contact with the
parasite. |
|
|
|
3-Apply
a water
repellant
substance
such as
petroleum jelly,
waterproof
sunscreen, or
other skin oils
to reduce the
ability of the
Cercariae from
penetrating the
skin. |
|
|
|
4-Dry
off with a towel
as soon as you
get out of the
water.
When you get out
of the lake,
don't let the
water evaporate
off your skin.
The Cercariae in
the droplets of
water on your
skin will look
for somewhere
else to go as
the droplet of
water
evaporates. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
|
