![]() If a person comes into contact with swimmer's itch, symptoms begin within 24 hours. ![]() Snails carry the organism too, so if there are weeds or other debris near shore, there's a possibility that there are snails around also. Be sure to keep beaches clean of weeds and other debris that washes ashore. The organism drifts to shallow water near the shoreline, so it's best to avoid wading or playing in shallow water. If possible, swim from a raft or boat farther out in the water. Toweling off immediately after swimming helps avoid this scenario. The organism needs water to live, when water starts evaporating off the skin, it burrows in to survive. Stop feeding any geese or ducks near the dock. However, an important fact to consider is that the critter starts out in the intestinal lining of waterfowl, mostly ducks. The organism that causes swimmer's itch has a complicated life history. They can carry the adult form of the organism, so it is better if they aren't hanging around public beaches. Do not encourage waterfowl to hang around beaches. The DNR offers the following tips to minimize the likelihood of getting swimmer's itch: This behavior makes it easy for them to be moved around the lake, and tends to concentrate their numbers along the shoreline. The cercaria only lives for a day or so and typically inhabits the upper few inches of water, which increases its chances of coming into contact with a duck, its host. The life stage that causes swimmer's itch is called a "cercaria" which is an immature stage of a blood fluke common in waterfowl, according to the DNR. Much like poison ivy, the more times you come in contact with the organism that carries swimmer's itch, the more likely the chances are that you will get it. If it sounds like a small price to pay for itch-free swimming for you and your family, it is! Now if we could only figure out those mosquitos.Each summer as lake water temperatures rise, some swimmers begin to get the itch - swimmer's itch, that is.Ī few reports have been made in the Park Rapids area already but there are no "hot spots," said Edie Evarts, Assistant Area Fisheries Supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources in Park Rapids.Īccording to the Department of Natural Resources, only 30-40 percent of people are sensitive to swimmer's itch. Treatment should be effective in a few days and follow-up applications are typically required. It sinks to the bottom where the snails live and then dissolves. Copper Sulfate is EPA approved and people can swim during and after application. Copper Sulfate is toxic to the snails carrying the parasite but safe for swimmers. One way to do that is to treat your shoreline with a chemical molluscicide such as Copper Sulfate. To get rid of the parasite, you need to get rid of the snails. The best option is get rid of the parasite. But that’s not always possible, especially if the problem is in your own lake or pond. The one sure way to prevent Swimmer’s Itch is to avoid swimming in areas where it is a known problem. Showering after swimming is also often suggested, but by that time the parasite has already moved in and rinsing won’t help. The snails release the parasites into the water and if one comes into contact with a swimmer, it burrows into the skin causing an allergic reaction and rash.Ĭommon tips for avoiding Swimmer’s Itch include applying a barrier to your skin, such as sunscreen or a lotion before swimming, but there is no evidence that such products help prevent swimmer’s itch. These snails are typically is found in shallow ponds or lakes, and tend to concentrate near the shoreline where the water is warmer. ![]() Swimmer’s Itch, also called mercurial dermatitis, is caused by flatworm larvae hosted by a particular variety snails. Once you’ve had a case, you certainly won’t want to get it again! So what is the best way to prevent Swimmer’s Itch? That could easily ruin a weekend, or even an entire vacation. Reddened spots, called papules, can itch intensely for up to a week, even with treatment. When it comes to summer nuisances, Swimmer’s Itch easily trumps mosquito bites.
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