RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) – Temperatures are expected to get up into the 90s later this week. As people head to the lakes to cool off, health officials are reminding people to take precautions against swimmer’s itch.
It’s a parasite that can be found in some waters. It’s mostly found in birds, but it can cause a rash if it comes into contact with skin.
Rachael Cornelius is the Vilas County Public Health Community Health Educator. She says anyone can get swimmer’s itch, but children are more likely to get it. “Really just because they are the ones that tend to spend more time in the water, playing in those shallow water areas, playing by the water in and out. And the key component is letting that water dry on your body naturally or evaporate.”
You can prevent swimmer’s itch by avoiding areas of a lake where you know ducks tend to swim.
Cornelius recommends towel drying off immediately and then rinsing off as soon as possible.
There’s no treatment for swimmer’s itch. It usually clears up on its own within a week. “But you certainly can do over-the-counter things like a hydrocortisone cream, cool compresses kind of health soothe the rash. Epsom salt baths or baking soda baths are just kind of more comfort measures than anything.”
Swimmer’s Itch can’t be passed from person to person.
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