

These larvae swim around the water looking for a certain species of snail, and if they come into contact with the snail, the larvae will multiply and further develop. If those eggs reach water, they hatch and release tiny, microscopic larvae. The parasites lay eggs in the infected animal’s blood and then the eggs are passed through the infected animal’s poop. The parasites that cause swimmer’s itch originate from infected birds that live near water, such as ducks, geese and gulls, and mammals like beavers, muskrats and raccoons. The parasite larvae that cause swimmer’s itch are known as cercariae. What kind of parasites cause swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis)? The rash usually gets better after a few days, but it can last for up to two weeks. The parasites cannot survive in human skin, so they die shortly after burrowing into your skin. Your body has an allergic reaction to it, causing a rash. If you swim in water that’s infested with the parasite, it can burrow (dig) into your skin.
#SEVERE SWIMMERS ITCH SKIN#
Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) is a temporary, non-contagious itchy rash that appears on your skin and is caused by a certain parasite found in fresh water (lake or pond water) or salt water (ocean water). What is swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis)?
