Because these larvae cannot develop inside a human, they soon die. Although humans are not suitable hosts, the microscopic larvae burrow into the swimmer’s skin, and may cause an allergic reaction and rash. This larval form then swims about searching for a suitable host (bird, muskrat) to continue the lifecycle. Infected snails release a different type of microscopic larvae (or cercariae, hence the name cercarial dermatitis) into the water. If the larvae find one of these snails, they infect the snail, multiply and undergo further development. These larvae swim in the water in search of a certain species of aquatic snail. If the eggs land in or are washed into the water, the eggs hatch, releasing small, free-swimming microscopic larvae. The parasites produce eggs that are passed in the feces of infected birds or mammals. The adult parasite lives in the blood of infected animals such as ducks, geese, gulls, swans, and certain mammals such as muskrats and raccoons. How does water become infested with the parasite? Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months.
#Swimmers itch contagious skin#
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. These parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans). Most cases of swimmer’s itch do not require medical attention, but the CDC advises not to scratch.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. Prevention includes avoiding marshy swimming areas and towel drying or showering immediately after leaving the water. Swimmer’s itch is not contagious, but anyone who swims in infected water can get the ailment. The good news is the parasite’s preferred hosts are birds and mammals and will die shortly after burrowing into the skin of humans, although it will cause an itching and painful rash for a few days up to a week. If eggs land in the water, they hatch and release microscopic larvae, which then seek out certain species of aquatic snails to infect and multiply.įrom there, snails release their own larvae, which can dig into the skin of swimmers, causing allergic reactions and rashes in humans. Parasites produce eggs that pass through poop. How a person becomes infected is complex, but it originates through the feces of infected animals ranging from “ducks, geese, gulls, swans and certain mammals such as muskrats and raccoons.” The Dallas native told Buzzfeed News she thought it was an allergic reaction to her aunt’s cat, not realizing it was swimmer’s itch until her friends sent her a TikTok of another woman suffering from the same rash. However, despite rinsing off in clean water, the 19-year-old woke up the next morning with her legs covered in a red rash, which later spread to the rest of her body. doublerighttwix/TiktokĬaussey had been visiting her aunt in Texas when she went paddle boarding with some friends in Town Lake, responding to a comment on her TikTok saying she was “barely” in the water and showered after. tashamarieball/Tiktok People with swimmer’s itch experience red bumps on their skin. doublerighttwix/Tiktok Tasha Maria Ball had the same reaction after swimming in an Austin, Texas, lake. In the video, Caussey shows her legs covered in tiny red bumps and some larger ones on her arms, adding she’s “lowkey scared to swim in lakes now.” The red rash started on Reagan Caussey’s legs and then appeared on her arms. “It’s so uncomfortable,” she captioned a TikTok video that has been viewed 6.5 million times. Reagan Caussey went viral on TikTok after posting about her experience with the side effects, admitting she didn’t know about the condition before she got it. You swim, you have a good time, you feel refreshed you … break out in an unsightly and painful rash?Įnter swimmer’s itch, an allergic reaction that many people are unaware of, caused by a microscopic parasite that passes through feces and lives in some lakes, ponds and oceans. Picture this: It’s a blistering hot day and there’s a glistening body of water for you to cool down in. I’m an 89-year-old who went on my first date in 30 years - but got stood up I ‘rage applied’ myself out of workplace hell - and into an extra $50K Mormon ‘swinger’ charged with domestic violence, child abuse I’m a Starbucks barista - We’ve been out of ‘espresso and dignity’ for 2 months
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