TEXAS – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning swimmers of a rash contracted by parasites in lakes, ponds and oceans.

Swimmer’s itch, or cercarial dermatitis, is a rash on the skin, which is caused by parasites released into bodies of water. The parasite’s hosts include ducks, geese, sea gulls, swans and raccoons.  

The parasites live internally in the blood of the infected animals, which can produce eggs that are washed into the water through the animals’ feces. Once in the water, the parasite eggs hatch releasing larvae.

The larvae can then burrow into the skin of swimmers causing an allergic reaction that presents itself as a rash. Swimmer’s itch is common during the summer months as people look for places to cool down.

Typically children are affected the most as they often play in shallow water and are less likely to dry off after swimming.

Symptoms:

  • Tingling skin
  • Burning skin
  • Itchy skin
  • Small reddish pimples
  • Small blisters

Symptoms can appear anywhere between minutes after swimming to days later. It cannot be spread from human contact.

Reduce the risk:

  • Don’t swim in areas with warning of unsafe water
  • Don’t feed birds next to water where people are swimming
  • Maintain pools with chlorinated water
  • Towel dry immediately after swimming
  • Don’t swim in marshy areas