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[cool][#0000ff]We have had questions in the past about the swimmers' itch organisms in Pelican Lake and Mantua. We have a thread running on this over on the float tubing board and there are a couple of links that I thought Utah folks might like to check out:[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.lakemissionviejo.org/07safety/swimitch.pdf"]SWIMMERS' ITCH 1[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/communicable/factsheets/SwimmersItch.htm"]SWIMMERS' ITCH 2[/url][/#0000ff]
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[cool][#0000ff]Vastly different. Well, maybe half vast.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One is a biological organism. The other is mostly mental. Then again, so are we.[/#0000ff]
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Good, cause scratching really doesn't seem to do much for the one itch.
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I have fished mantua from a tube with no waders many times the swimmers itch was never an issue for me.
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[cool][#0000ff]They have signs posted at the launch ramp warning people about swimmers itch, but that doesn't stop all the swimmers and skiers. I have never known anyone who claimed to be affected there, but I still wear waders.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Pelican is a different story. Almost 100% of anyone who gets the water on them, and does not towel off, seems to get itchy.[/#0000ff]
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I looked at your links to see what information they gave on prevention of swimmers itch. I'm a physician who has an interest in tropical disease and have seen hundreds of cases of human forms of schistosomiasis in individuals from Africa and Asia here in Utah. Swimmers itch is caused by a bird form of schistosomiasis that accidently gets into human skin as does not establish an infection in humans as the cerceriae die in human skin and doesn't go on to form adult worms. Prevention of infection with schistosomiasis has been extensively studied. Obviously avoiding contact with potentially infected water is most important. But if contact with water is going to occur compounds containing deet applied to the skin before exposure and towelling off vigorously appear to help greatly. One link mentioned use of citronella. While this might be helpful this has not been looked at nearly extensively as deet.
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My cousin and I made some home made float tubes... (ask me and I can make one for you too) and we tested them at Salem pond.
The next day my cousin got a really bad ichy rash on his legs (wearing shorts, no waders) I on the other hand did not get anything....
Could this have been that same swimmers itch?
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[cool][#0000ff]As far as I know, Salem Pond is not on the list of infected waters. Human chemistry is funny and some people develop reactions to different things. As the articles say, not all people have reaction to swimmers' itch either. Some of those things are hard to diagnose.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Has he been swimming in circles, chasing his tail? Might even be whirling disease.[/#0000ff]
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