Cercarial Dermatitis Treatment

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Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Treatment of Cercarial Dermatitis

Cercarial dermatitis is a skin condition which appears on the body as a patchy red pinpoint skin rash. It also includes itchiness when the affected parts of the body are exposed to water. Usually, this condition is not considered as being severe or permanent. Typically the itchiness and rash only stays for just a short period and can often disappear even without treatment. After exposure to the cause the itching usually starts within a day or two and may last up to 7 days. It is considered to be a rare type of dermatitis that can turn quite severe if a large portion of the body is affected.

It is known that birds, mammals and some humans are the normal hosts of certain species like schistosomes, which can cause cercarial dermatitis. The cercariae are not as host-specific as other types of schistosomes and they seem to have a chemotropic reaction to secretions from the sufferers skin. Cercariae attempt to and sometimes actually enter the human skin. The penetration in the skin causes a type of dermatitis that is usually accompanied by an intense itching. In the human body, the cercariae do not mature into adults. Cercarial dermatitis can occur in most places around the world and is more frequent during the hot and sultry summer months.

Cases of cercarial dermatitis can occur in both fresh and brackish water environments. Cercarial dermatitis can also often be seen on the exposed skin outside of close-fitting garments. Many people also commonly know cercarial dermatitis as Swimmer’s itch.

Signs of Cercarial Dermatitis

The signs or symptoms of the condition are usually a tingling, burning or itching sensation followed by the appearance of small reddish pimples and small blisters on the affected areas of the skin. Initially the signs may just be the small pimples but often these develop into small blisters soon afterwards. Often sufferer of cercarial dermatitis will also develop secondary bacterial infections as a result of continued scratching of the affected areas. It is normal for the itching sensation to gradually go away but before that happens the itching symptoms can often last up to two weeks, or in severe cases longer. In simple terms Cercarial dermatitis is caused by an allergic reaction to infection, which can worsen if you swim a lot or have to wade in contaminated water.
Thankfully Cercarial dermatitis is not considered contagious nor can it be spread from one person to another.

Treatment of Cercarial Dermatitis

One of the best treatments of cercarial dermatitis is to apply a corticosteroid cream on the affected areas. Applying cool compresses can also assist control the outbreak of cercarial dermatitis. Other treatments include bathing in Epson salts or baking soda and soaking in colloidal oatmeal baths. To minimise and control the rash outbreak sufferers can also apply baking soda paste to the affected areas. For controlling the itch you can use Calamine, which is an anti-itch lotion.

If at all possible you should avoid scratching the affected area as this may cause infection. If you are a sufferer of cercarial dermatitis it is recommended that you consult your doctor for advice of prescription medication or over the counter remedies particularly if you are experiencing severe itching or the rash is not reacting to some of the usual treatments.

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