Swimmer's Itch - Lakes and Oceans

When To Call

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Spreading red area or streak with fever
• Spreading red area or streak that's very large
• Your child looks or acts very sick

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Spreading red area or streak, but no fever
• Severe past allergic reaction to lake swimming that needed oral steroids
• You think your child needs to be seen

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Severe itching not better after 24 hours of using steroid cream
• Scab that looks infected (drains pus or gets bigger). Apply an antibiotic ointment 3 times per day until seen.
• Swimmer's itch lasts more than 2 weeks
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Swimmer's itch suspected. (Itchy rash that starts within 2 hours of being in a lake or ocean)

Care Advice

What You Should Know About Swimmer's Itch:

• Swimmer's itch is caused by a small parasite found in many lakes. It is less common in salt water. The parasite normally only attacks water birds.
• The main symptoms are itching and a rash.
• For swimmers, the rash can be widespread.
• For children who wade, the rash may occur only on the legs.
• No specific medicine is needed. Reason: the parasites die once they pass into the skin. The itching is a temporary allergic reaction.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Steroid Cream for Itching:

• To help with the itch, put 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid) on the rash. No prescription is needed. Use 3 times per day.
• Baking soda paste is another option. Make this by putting baking soda into a cup. Slowly, stir in water until it reaches a thickness like paste. Put it on the itchy spots as needed.

Cold Pack for Itching:

• Put a cold pack on the most itchy spots. You can also use ice wrapped up in wet washcloth.
• Do this for 20 minutes 4 times a day.

Allergy Medicine for Itching:

• If itching becomes severe, give a dose of Benadryl.
• No prescription is needed. Age limit: 1 and older.

Try Not to Scratch:

• Help your child not to scratch.
• Cut the fingernails short.
• Reason: prevents a skin infection from bacteria.

What to Expect:

• The spots turn into small red lumps over 1 to 2 days.
• The spots can be quite itchy for up to 7 days.
• The rash gradually fades away over 2 weeks.

Return to School:

• The rash cannot be spread to others.

Prevention of Swimmer's Itch:

• Avoid swimming in areas where swimmer's itch has been a known problem.
• Towel yourself dry right after swimming or wading. Reason: wipe off parasites before they get under the skin.
• The rash is usually worse with each exposure. So, it's very important to try to prevent recurrences.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Rash becomes infected
• Itching becomes severe
• Rash lasts over 2 weeks
• You think your child needs to be seen
• Your child becomes worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.