swimmer's itch
Parasite skin irritation
Swimmer's itch is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to parasitic larvae that burrow into the skin after swimming in infested freshwater lakes or ponds.
The larvae, released by snails, normally target birds or mammals but can accidentally penetrate human skin, causing red, itchy bumps that appear within hours: I got swimmer's itch from the lake last summer.
Shelled terrestrial gastropods
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- flatwormsBilaterally symmetric unsegmented invertebrates
- life cycleOrganism's full developmental sequence
- waterborneCarried by liquid flow
infestation · freshwater · aquatic · waterfowl · ducks · geese · parasitology · zoonotic
Heedless or skin irritation
- papulesSmall raised skin lesions
- pruritusMedical term for itching
- erythemaCutaneous vascular flushing
- scratchingRaking with nails
redness · inflammation · hives · welts · blistering · tingling · burning · stinging
Enclosed body of freshwater
- pondSmall still body
- marshGrassy waterlogged lowland
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- shorelineLand-water boundary
wading · shallow water · warm water · stagnant water · beach · dock · waterfront
Removing wetness with fabric
- barrier creamSkin-shielding topical application
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- copper sulfateBlue crystalline metallic salt
- quick dryingEvaporates moisture rapidly
snails
Shelled terrestrial gastropods
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- flatwormsBilaterally symmetric unsegmented invertebrates
- life cycleOrganism's full developmental sequence
waterborne · infestation · freshwater · aquatic · waterfowl · ducks · geese · parasitology · zoonotic
rash
Heedless or skin irritation
scratching · redness · inflammation · hives · welts · blistering · tingling · burning · stinging · antihistamine
lake
Enclosed body of freshwater
shoreline · wading · shallow water · warm water · stagnant water · beach · dock · waterfront
towel drying
Removing wetness with fabric
- barrier creamSkin-shielding topical application
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- copper sulfateBlue crystalline metallic salt