Swimmer's itch is a rash caused by an allergic reaction to the larvae of certain parasites. A parasite is an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant (called the host). The rash looks like reddish bumps on the skin. It often appears outside the bathing suit. How severe the rash is may vary for people exposed to the same parasites.
The parasites can get under your skin when you swim in fresh water (such as lakes and ponds) and sometimes in salt water. This causes an allergic reaction and an itchy rash. The itching is worse in the first few days after it starts. Then it gets better after about a week. Because the parasite can't live in the human body, swimmer's itch goes away on its own.
You don't get swimmer's itch from swimming pools that are treated with chlorine. And it doesn't spread from person to person.
Symptoms of swimmer's itch include:
How severe the rash is may vary for people exposed to the same parasites.
In most cases, swimmer's itch goes away on its own, so you don't need to see a doctor.
To treat the itching at home, you can:
Try not to scratch the rash. This could lead to an infection.
To lower your chance of getting swimmer's itch:
A doctor can diagnose swimmer's itch by looking at your skin and asking if you've been swimming in ponds or lakes.
Swimmer's itch is a rash caused by an allergic reaction to the larvae of certain parasites. The parasites can get under your skin when you swim in freshwater (such as lakes and ponds) and sometimes salt water. But you can't get swimmer's itch from swimming pools that are treated with chlorine.
The tiny parasites infect birds or mammals and lay eggs. Bird and mammal droppings that contain the eggs get into lakes and ponds. The eggs hatch into larvae, which then infect snails. The snails in turn release the larvae into the water, where the larvae look for a host. If they come in contact with people, the parasites can burrow under the skin. This causes an allergic reaction and a rash.
But the larvae can't survive in humans, so the parasites die. As a result, the rash usually goes away on its own and doesn't need treatment. The rash can't be spread from person to person.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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