Health Department Investigates Rashes Reported after Swimming at Greenwood Park

(NANTICOKE - NY) The Broome County Health Department has been involved in an investigation prompted by phone calls from swimmers experiencing itching and rash-like symptoms after swimming at Greenwood Park at the end of May. There have been no additional reports of rashes since. The investigation is ongoing. Symptoms from those interviewed from the isolated cases are similar to those of swimmer’s itch.

At this time, pending further investigation, the Broome County Health Department cannot say with certainty that swimmer’s itch is responsible for the rashes.

Swimmer’s itch, or cercarial dermatitis, is an allergic reaction that some people get when exposed to certain parasites of birds and mammals. The adult parasite lives in the blood of infected animals such as ducks, geese, and other bird fowl, and certain mammals such as muskrats and raccoons. The parasite’s tiny eggs are excreted from the animal hosts into the water, where they are taken up by snails. After further development, they are again released into the water. They seek a new animal host but sometimes encounter human swimmers. The parasites can irritate human skin but do not survive or reproduce in humans.

The signs and symptoms of swimmer’s itch include:

tingling, burning, or itching of the skin
small reddish pimples
small blisters

“Swimmer’s itch is neither dangerous nor contagious but can be very uncomfortable,” said Claudia Edwards, Public Health Director for the Broome County Health Department.

To minimize the likelihood of getting swimmer’s itch:

Towel off immediately after leaving the water.
Do not swim near or wade in marshy areas where snails are commonly found.
Do not attract birds (by feeding them) to areas to where people are swimming.

Though not everyone that is exposed to swimmer’s itch will get it, children are more at risk because they tend to swim, wade and play in the shallow water along the shoreline where the parasites tend to concentrate.

If a person comes into contact with the parasites associated with swimmer’s itch, symptoms usually begin within 12-24 hours. Symptoms can last for a few days up to a week or more.

To get relief of symptoms:

Use corticosteroid cream
Apply cool compresses to the affected areas
Bath in Epsom salt
Soak in colloidal oatmeal baths
Apply baking soda paste to the rash (made by stirring water into baking soda) until it reaches a paste-like consistency
Use an anti-itch lotion

Though it can be very difficult, try to avoid itching. Itching can lead to infection. If symptoms are severe and there is evidence of an infection, contact your medical provider.

Please report any itchy rashes that may develop within 2 days of swimming at Greenwood Park to the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.2839. If a rash persists over a week, please contact your primary physician.

For more information regarding swimmer’s itch, visit the Broome County Health Department’s website at www.gobroomecounty.com/hd.

Posted: 6/30/2011 11:32 am

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