Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Sea Grant recommend that swimmers avoid areas that are known to cause swimmers itch. Measures can be taken to prevent getting swimmers itch. The more time a swimmer spends in this type of environment, the risk increases for getting swimming itch. Areas that contain the swimmers itch parasite are usually along the shoreline and shallow areas where waterfowl frequent. This usually occurs in the late summer months. Swimmers itch usually occurs when the air and water temperatures are warm enough for snails to reproduce and grow. It usually clears up on its own in several days. When the parasite is in the skin, it causes an inflammatory reaction that leads to itching. These parasites die immediately upon human contact as humans are not a host for this parasite. It is when these free-swimming parasites encounter a swimmer, which can lead to swimmers itch as it penetrates the skin. At the life stages when the flatworm parasite leaves the freshwater snail and swims freely in the water, they usually encounter waterfowl to complete their life cycle. Swimmers itch is caused by a flatworm parasite that uses freshwater snails and waterfowl as its hosts in its life cycle. This is usually caused by what is called swimmers itch. At times, soon after a swim, some swimmers can come down with a skin irritation that causes extreme itching. The summer season is in full swing in Michigan and many people take to ponds, inland lakes, and the Great Lakes to escape the heat.
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