Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisPreventionTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment
Prognosis
Snails, waterfowl, beavers, and other aquatic birds and animals can become infected with the cercaria parasite. Cercaria eggs are then passed into the water through feces (poop).
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options for swimmer’s itch.
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Swimmer’s Itch Symptoms
The typical symptoms of swimmer’s itch include:
Skin Color DifferencesYour skin color can affect the appearance of a rash. Rashes that look pink or reddish on light skin may appear pink, purplish, darker, or lighter shades than the skin or simply like bumps with no discoloration.
Skin Color Differences
Your skin color can affect the appearance of a rash. Rashes that look pink or reddish on light skin may appear pink, purplish, darker, or lighter shades than the skin or simply like bumps with no discoloration.
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How Long Does It Take to Get Swimmer’s Itch?
The longer you’re in the contaminated water, the more likely you are to come into contact with the larvae. Symptoms of swimmer’s itch can start anywhere from a few minutes to a few days after you swim, but it often begins within two hours of swimming.
The more often you go into contaminated water, the more likely you will develop symptoms quickly. Repeated exposure may also make the symptoms more intense.
Rashes: An Alphabetical List
Anallergic reactionto cercarial larvae causes swimmer’s itch. The cercarial eggs pass into the water through the feces of infected animals.
After they hatch, the larvae burrow into your skin, creating an itchy rash. Humans aren’t good hosts for them, so they die off before long, which means not everyone who enters water will get swimmer’s itch—you must have an allergy to the larvae. (The ideal host is a duck.)
It also means swimmer’s itch isn’t contagious, so you don’t have to worry about giving it to (or getting it from) people around you. You may develop the allergy and the rash it leads to after repeated exposure to the cercarial larva.
Swimmer’s Itch in KidsChildren are more likely than adults to develop swimmer’s itch. This is partly because they tend to stay in shallow water, which is more likely to contain larval parasites.
Swimmer’s Itch in Kids
Children are more likely than adults to develop swimmer’s itch. This is partly because they tend to stay in shallow water, which is more likely to contain larval parasites.
How Do I Know if I Have Swimmer’s Itch?
Water Rashes
Swimmer’s itch isn’t the only rash you can catch from natural bodies of water. Other rashes include:
You can’t catch swimmer’s itch from a swimming pool. However, you may develop achlorine rash, which is a type of irritant dermatitis. It causes itchy hives.
Hot Tub Folliculitis: Rash From Contaminated Water
How Can I Prevent Swimmer’s Itch?
If you get swimmer’s itch, let a health official know. They may want to post warning signs to protect other people.
All About Itching
How Can I Get Rid of Swimmer’s Itch?
Most cases of swimmer’s itch can be treated at home. Your options for soothing the rash include:
It may also help to take anantihistamine(allergy pill).
When to Get Medical Help for Swimmer’s Itch
Some cases of swimmer’s itch do need medical attention. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if:
Get immediate medical care if you notice:
Also seek care if you’ve had severe post-swimming reactions in the past that required oral steroid treatment.
Widespread ProblemThe parasite that causes swimmer’s itch is found in all 50 states but is most common in the Great Lakes region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan, and Ontario in Canada). It’s also found in other parts of Canada and in more than 30 other countries.
Widespread Problem
The parasite that causes swimmer’s itch is found in all 50 states but is most common in the Great Lakes region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan, and Ontario in Canada). It’s also found in other parts of Canada and in more than 30 other countries.
Your first case of swimmer’s itch may last up to two weeks. If you avoid infection, it should clear up without complications or lingering symptoms.
Summary
Swimmer’s itch is an allergic reaction to a parasite in fresh water like ponds or lakes. It’s more common in children than adults. It causes an itchy, discolored rash that may look like pimples or small blisters. It’s not contagious.
What Is Chlorine Rash?
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Swimmer’s itch.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Swimmer’s itch.DermNet New Zealand Trust.Swimmer’s itch.University of Alberta.4 common water rashes and what you can do about them.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Allergist.Chlorine “allergy".HealthLinkBC, British Colombia.Swimmer’s itch.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Swimmer’s itch - lakes and oceans.Additional ReadingNational Capital Poison Center.Identifying, treating and preventing swimmer’s itch.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Swimmer’s itch.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Swimmer’s itch.DermNet New Zealand Trust.Swimmer’s itch.University of Alberta.4 common water rashes and what you can do about them.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Allergist.Chlorine “allergy".HealthLinkBC, British Colombia.Swimmer’s itch.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Swimmer’s itch - lakes and oceans.Additional ReadingNational Capital Poison Center.Identifying, treating and preventing swimmer’s itch.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Swimmer’s itch.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Swimmer’s itch.DermNet New Zealand Trust.Swimmer’s itch.University of Alberta.4 common water rashes and what you can do about them.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Allergist.Chlorine “allergy".HealthLinkBC, British Colombia.Swimmer’s itch.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Swimmer’s itch - lakes and oceans.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Swimmer’s itch.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Swimmer’s itch.
DermNet New Zealand Trust.Swimmer’s itch.
University of Alberta.4 common water rashes and what you can do about them.
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Allergist.Chlorine “allergy".
HealthLinkBC, British Colombia.Swimmer’s itch.
Seattle Children’s Hospital.Swimmer’s itch - lakes and oceans.
National Capital Poison Center.Identifying, treating and preventing swimmer’s itch.
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