'Swimmer's Itch' Reported At Greenwich Beaches: Health Department

GREENWICH, CT — Signs warning residents about "swimmer's itch" will be popping up at beaches in town this weekend in light of two recently reported cases of the uncomfortable skin rash, according to the Greenwich Health Department.

Also referred to as "cercarial dermatitis," swimmer's itch is caused by an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites that are released from snails into lakes, ponds and oceans. Although humans are not the parasites' preferred hosts, they can come into contact with a swimmer and cause an allergic reaction and rash.

Director of Health Caroline Calderone Baisley said the department has only received two calls reporting swimmer's itch this summer. One incident was reported at Greenwich Point and the other at Great Captain's Island.

"[Swimmer's itch] is very common, especially in the warmer months," Baisley said to Patch. "Every year we get a little bit of it. Sometimes it's more prominent, and then there are years where we don't get it at all. It has to do with the environmental conditions."

According to Baisley, swimmer's itch usually appears during the later months of summer, as that is when the water is typically at its warmest. There are a number of factors that can cause swimmer's itch to become a problem in the water, such as the heavy amount of rain the town saw this summer.

As these factors often change and cannot be tested for, it is currently unknown how long the water in town will be affected, Baisley said. As a precaution, signs will be posted at all Greenwich beaches to warn residents of the possible risk of swimmer's itch.

"If it intensifies, I will close the beach for swimming," Baisley said. "Just the water, not the actual facility."

Baisley said there are some ways to treat the water, however, it is not something the department finds necessary at this time.

"There are measures you can take, but it comes and goes," Baisley said. "We never know when it's not a problem, only when it is one... and I don't think we want to go through that measure of getting approval to put any kind of chemical in state waters."

Common symptoms of swimmer's itch include tingling, burning or itching of the skin within minutes or days and the appearance of "small reddish pimples" on the skin within about 12 hours, according to the department. Small blisters may pop up in the area of the small pimples within a short period of time as well.

Though someone with swimmer's itch may have an urge to scratch the affected area, this can actually lead to infection. Though the itching subsides in a short period of time, officials recommend considering relief measures.

Most cases of swimmer's itch do not require medical attention, however, there are a number of ways to relieve a rash if one develops:

• Use of corticosteroid cream
• Application of cool compresses to the affected area
• Bathe in Epsom salts or baking soda
• Soak in colloidal oatmeal baths
• Application of a baking soda paste to the rash
• Use of anti-itch lotion

According to Baisley, the best way residents can protect themselves from swimmer's itch is drying off with a towel immediately after getting out of the water and showering. It is also recommended that anyone who develops swimmer's itch report it to the department.

"The only way that we know it's happening is when people call and say they got a rash, which is indicative of the parasite being in the water," Baisley said. "You can't test for it, so you just have to wait."