Swimmer’s Itch appearing in lakes across the region

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (KVRR) — Every summer across the nation, lake lovers have to contend with swimmers’ itch—an annoying rash caused by parasites in warm water.

“You know we’re out swimming in these usually shallow parts or warmer parts of the water. Closer to the surface. Then these parasites will try to burrow into our skin to find a new host and then they end up dying because they find out we’re not good hosts. But by then, the damage is already done,” said April Rohrer, Family Nurse Practitioner at Essentia.

The rash appears like pimples or blisters, mainly on the legs. Symptoms may begin within minutes or as long as two days after swimming or wading in contaminated water. But not everyone is sensitive to swimmer’s itch and may show no symptoms in the same area where others may receive it.

“Just in the last two weeks, I’d say probably eight people have come in with swimmer’s itch. And then a lot of friends that are lake people that are talking about it too,” said Rohrer.

In the Detroit Lakes area, Mike Denardo said one person told him they caught swimmer’s itch in another part of the lake. He says not every corner of the lake appears to be affected.

“All of these people here are regulars. And over the Fourth of July, this usually gets pretty full. And I never heard anyone complain,” said Mike Denardo, Dock Worker at J & K Marine.

In parts of Minnesota, contractors are sent out to treat the beaches with a chemical that kills the parasites. A second round of treatment is scheduled for the Detroit Lakes area in mid-July.

“I always tell people, look, if you’re going to go out there, first thing you want to do when you get out of the water is you want to towel off. Clean all the water off your body, and then when you get home, take a shower. And that pretty much will take care of it,” said Denardo.

If you get swimmer’s itch, it’s recommended that you use anti-itch medication.