swimmer's itch

(noun)

Swimmer's itch, also known as lake itch, duck itch, cercarial dermatitis, and Schistosome cercarial dermatitis, is a short-term, immune reaction occurring in the skin of humans that have been infected by water-borne schistosomatidae.

Related Terms

Examples of swimmer's itch in the following topics:

  • Swimmer's Itch

    • Swimmer's itch is a result of an immune reaction in response to the penetration of the skin by a schistosome.
    • Swimmer's itch is a condition often referred to as lake itch, duck itch, cercarial dermatitis and Schistosome cercarial dermatitis.
    • There are numerous types of flatworm parasites within the family Schistosomatidae that can cause swimmer's itch.
    • In turn, the cercaria which are responsible for swimmer's itch are produced.
    • An overview of the life cycle of a schistosome and how they can cause swimmer's itch in humans.

  • Schistosomiasis

  • Fungal Skin and Nail Diseases

    • Common fungal skin diseases include athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm.
    • Common fungal skin and nail diseases include athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm.
    • Athlete's foot causes scaling, flaking, and itching of the affected skin.
    • Tinea cruris, also known as crotch itch, crotch rot, Dhobie itch, eczema marginatum, gym itch, jock itch, jock rot, and ringworm of the groin is a dermatophyte fungal infection of the groin region in any sex, though more often seen in males.
    • Fungus from other parts of the body (commonly tinea pedis or 'athlete's foot') can contribute to this itch.

  • Parasitic Skin Diseases

    • Colloquially called creeping eruption due to the way it looks, the disease is also somewhat ambiguously known as "ground itch" or (in some parts of the southern U.S.)
    • Another vernacular name is plumber's itch.
    • The infection causes a red, intense itching eruption.
    • The itching can become very painful and if scratched may allow a secondary bacterial infection to develop but it will stop after the parasites are dead.
    • The characteristic symptoms of a scabies infection include intense itching and superficial burrows .

  • Microorganisms and Water Quality

    • Standards for testing may differ depending on the water source: drinking water is held to very high standards, while water quality in lakes and rivers may be held to more lax standards because recreational swimmers typically ingest very little water .

  • Trichomoniasis

    • Symptoms include inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis), urethra (urethritis), and vagina (vaginitis) which produces an itching or burning sensation.

  • Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU)

    • The most common symptoms unique to men are discharge from the penis, itching, and tenderness.

  • Bacterial Vaginosis

    • Sometimes itching outside of the vagina or/and burning during urination can also be present.

  • African Trypanosomiasis

    • The first stage, known as the haemolymphatic phase, is characterized by fever, headaches, joint pains, and itching.

  • Genital Herpes

    • Other common symptoms include pain, itching, and burning.