What is swimmer's itch?

Swimmer's itch is a dermatities that develops on parts of the body that have been exposed to lake water containing certain larval forms of flatworms. Reddened spots, called papules, form on the body within hours after exposure and may itch intensely for several days before subsiding. After approximately one week, the symptoms usually disappear. In severe cases, a person can develop a fever, become nauseated and spend several sleepless nights suffering from intense itching.

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• What are the symptoms of swimmer's itch?
• Will swimmer's itch spread?
• Why do children often develop the most severe cases of swimmer's itch?
• When does the first outbreak of swimmer's itch occur?
• If an outbreak of swimmer's itch occurs in a particular lake or region of a lake, how long might it remain a problem?
• If swimmer's itch occurs on a lake, does that mean that the lake is polluted?
• Why may swimmer's itch be a problem one year but not the next?

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