![]() Swimmer’s itch cases were reported from every province except Prince Edward Island. Over 3800 cases of swimmer’s itch were captured across Canada by the self-reporting surveillance system. We compare the results from our surveys to a historical review of the literature to examine the extent of swimmer’s itch across Canada and identify where future efforts should be focused. We also conducted a 3-year species survey of parasites and intermediate snail hosts within lakes in central Alberta and compiled this data with snail and vertebrate (definitive) host survey data from across Alberta to examine potential for future spread. We examine the human perspective of having contracted swimmer’s itch through a self-reporting surveillance system implemented over a 5-year period. Herein we utilize a mixed-methods approach towards examining the environmental health issue of swimmer’s itch in Canadian lakes from a nation-wide viewpoint, with an example from Alberta. This study aims to gather relevant information on swimmer’s itch in Canada, from multiple perspectives, including the human experience, parasite and host presence and distributions, and insight from historical perspectives. Swimmer’s itch is a globally-distributed, allergic condition, of which we know very little regarding local dynamics of transmission. ![]() Mayo Clinic also suggests wearing plenty of water resistant sunscreen to protect your skin from the parasites (and UV rays, of course).Cercarial dermatitis, colloquially “swimmer’s itch”, is a rash contracted in natural bodies of water, when people are exposed to skin-penetrating, larval flatworm parasites of the family Schistosomatidae, that emerge from aquatic snails. You can wash away the parasites before they have a chance to get into your skin. If you are swimming or wading in shallow waters, avoid marshy areas and rinse off in the shower when you get out. Bring a life jacket if you're not a strong swimmer. The parasites live in shallow areas, so one easy way to avoid infection is to go out to deeper waters. ![]() Because the parasite's life cycle is so short, a clear area can become infected quickly and vice versa. However, there are things you can do to reduce your risk. It can be difficult to tell if an area is infected with swimmer's itch. You can read more about chiggers here and swimmer's itch here. The parasite that causes swimmer's itch is actually a tiny worm. They also cause itchy bumps on your skin. However, chiggers are tiny earthbound mites that live amidst grass and weeds. Swimmer's itch is often incorrectly referred to as chiggers. If you create an open wound, that could get infected and cause bigger issues. The bumps are generally harmless and will heal in a few days. People aren't suitable hosts, so the parasites quickly die and leave humans with the itchy rash we know as swimmer's itch. However, the microscopic critters occasionally get lost and accidentally burrow into an unsuspecting human. The parasites eventually seek a more suitable host in birds, completing the life cycle. These parasites live in birds, like ducks and geese, and the parasite's eggs enter the water through a bird's feces. (Yuck!)įrom there, the eggs hatch and larvae find a new host: snails. Here's what you need to know to protect your skin (and sanity) from those dreaded itchy bumps.Ĭercarial dermatitis, the technical name for swimmer's itch, is actually an allergic reaction to some microscopic parasites. Have you ever gone swimming in a lake only to break out a few hours later with itchy bumps all over your legs and toes? That's swimmer's itch, and it can really ruin beach trips the same way mosquitos mess up camping trips.
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