Over-the-counter drugs are available to reduce the symptoms of swimmer's itch. Swimmer's itch, although extremely annoying and uncomfortable, is not a communicable or fatal condition. For swimmer's itch, itching is limited to points of cercarial entry and will not spread or develop into water blisters. Chigger bites are usually located at points where clothing contacts the skin such as wrists, waist, ankles, etc. The itchy, reddened, and raised areas are sometimes confused with bites from chiggers or mosquitoes and the symptoms may be misdiagnosed as those resulting from poison ivy or stinging nettles. 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. Other ways to reduce your risk when swimming in potentially infested waters include applying waterproof sunscreen before swimming and rinsing off and toweling dry afterwards, according to the CDC.Not all people are sensitive to swimmer’s itch. The snails host the parasites as they multiply and develop, but eventually they excrete another form of larvae that can cause an allergic reaction in humans. Wading in marshy areas along the shoreline could further increase your risk as you creep into snail breeding grounds. The eggs then hatch tiny larvae that immediately seek a new host: a specific type of aquatic snail. The parasite thrives in their bloodstreams and releases its eggs in their feces. Humans are not meant to come into contact with the parasite, which infects birds and mammals that live near the water. The parasite that causes swimmer's itch is more likely to be present in warm, shallow water, so children are more likely to be infected compared with adults. While the possibility of swimmer's itch shouldn't keep you from exploring natural bodies of water this summer, there are a few steps you can take to reduce your risk.Īvoid swimming spots that are known to be contaminated with any type of parasite, as some water-dwelling organisms can cause infections far more dangerous than swimmer's itch. Apply cool compresses to the affected areas.Use corticosteroid cream (available over-the-counter).The CDC recommends using anti-itch creams or home remedies to relieve the itch, including the following tips: Scratching at the rash, however itchy it may be, increases the risk that the area will become infected with a more dangerous bacteria. The clinic recommends seeking medical care if the bumps linger for more than a few days or develop pus. If left alone to heal, the rash will clear up within a week, according to Mayo Clinic. arms and legs) is most commonly affected. Exposed skin not covered by a swimsuit (ie. The welts might look like bug bites, except they show up en masse minutes or days after a swim in untreated water.
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