Cercarial Dermatitis

Alternate names

Swimmer's itch

Summary

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. These parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans). 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. Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months.

Cause

Cercarial dermatitis (“swimmer’s itch”, “clam-digger’s itch”, “duck itch”) is caused by the cercariae of certain species of schistosomes whose normal hosts are birds and mammals other than humans.

Life cycle

• The adult parasite lives in the blood of infected animals such as ducks, geese, gulls, swans, and certain mammals such as muskrats and raccoons.
• The parasites produce eggs that are passed in the feces of infected birds or mammals.
• If the eggs land in or are washed into the water, the eggs hatch, releasing small, free-swimming microscopic larvae. These larvae swim in the water in search of a certain species of aquatic snail.
• If the larvae find one of these snails, they infect the snail, multiply and undergo further development.
• Infected snails release a different type of microscopic larvae (or cercariae, hence the name cercarial dermatitis) into the water.
• This larval form then swims about searching for a suitable host (bird, muskrat) to continue the lifecycle.
• Although humans are not suitable hosts, the microscopic larvae burrow into the swimmer’s skin, and may cause an allergic reaction and rash.
• Because these larvae cannot develop inside a human, they soon die.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of swimmer’s itch may include:

• tingling, burning, or itching of the skin
• small reddish pimples
• small blisters
• Within minutes to days after swimming in contaminated water, you may experience tingling, burning, or itching of the skin.
• Small reddish pimples appear within twelve hours.
• Pimples may develop into small blisters. Scratching the areas may result in secondary bacterial infections.
• Itching may last up to a week or more, but will gradually go away.
• Because swimmer’s itch is caused by an allergic reaction to infection, the more often you swim or wade in contaminated water, the more likely you are to develop more serious symptoms.
• The greater the number of exposures to contaminated water, the more intense and immediate symptoms of swimmer’s itch will be.

Transmission

Swimmer’s itch is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another.

Risk factors

• Anyone who swims or wades in infested water may be at risk.
• Larvae are more likely to be present in shallow water by the shoreline.
• Children are most often affected because they tend to swim, wade, and play in the shallow water more than adults.
• Also, they are less likely to towel dry themselves when leaving the water.

Treatment

Most cases of swimmer’s itch do not require medical attention. If you have a rash, you may try the following for relief:

• Use corticosteroid cream
• Apply cool compresses to the affected areas
• Bathe in Epsom salts or baking soda
• Soak in colloidal oatmeal baths
• Apply baking soda paste to the rash (made by stirring water into baking soda until it reaches a paste-like consistency)
• Use an anti-itch lotion

Though difficult, try not to scratch. Scratching may cause the rash to become infected. If itching is severe, your health care provider may suggest prescription-strength lotions or creams to lessen your symptoms.

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Cercarial Dermatitis

Cercarial Dermatitis is a rare disease.

Cercarial Dermatitis Resources
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